Control of cytotoxic T cell responses in the skin by mononuclear phagocytes during primary viral infection and memory recall (B02)

• Subject Area: Immunology
• Term: since 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 246807620

Cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes (CTL) play a critical role in the immune defense against viruses that infect cells of the skin. Mononuclear phagocytes (MNP) as professional antigen presenting cells (APC) are important for priming, differentiation and reactivation of CD8+ T cells. Here, we want to investigate how MNP control cytotoxic T cell responses to a poxvirus infection of the skin and instruct the development of skin resident memory T cells (TRM). Using mice that allow the induction of viral antigens in Keratinocytes we will analyze the immunological and pathological consequences of TRM reactivation.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 156: The skin as sensor and effector orchestrating local and systemic immunity
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Project Heads: Dr. Hans Christian Probst; Professor Dr. Hansjörg Schild