Somatic diversification of a transgenic TCR to enhance antiviral immunity and prevent immunopathology (P16)

• Subject Area: Immunology
• Term: from 2015 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 256073931

An impaired pathogen clearance in lymphopenic hosts can lead to chronic activation of the immune system. We intend to investigate the use of RNA-guided DNA endonucleases based on the CRISPR/Cas system as a means to achieve artificial somatic diversification of a transgenic TCR. We will examine whether such somatic diversification of a TCR that is specific for an LCMV-encoded antigenic peptide presented in the context of MHC II results in the emergence of a diverse repertoire of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, capable of controlling LCMV infection and preventing CD4+ cell-mediated immunopathology.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1160: Immune-mediated pathology as a consequence of impaired immune reactions (IMPATH)
• Applicant Institution: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
• Co-Applicant Institution: Max-Planck-Institut für Immunbiologie und Epigenetik
• Project Head: Dr. Thomas Boehm