Grant: Operating Grant

Natural killer cells (NK cells) are a type of lymphocyte (white blood cell) and a component of our innate immune system. NK cell dysfunction results in increased sensitivity to viral infection, suggesting that NK cells are necessary to elicit an optimal immune response to viral infection. Although the immune responses evoked during viral infection are critical for combating infection, they often cause collateral damage to the host when not appropriately controlled. As such, NK cells, in addition to their anti-microbial role against virus infections, can regulate the immune response by releasing anti-inflammatory molecules. The current project is focused on characterizing novel NK cell regulatory functions during sustained viral infection. NK cells are at the forefront of immunology, and the results of this investigation will help us to modulate excessive immune reactions, thereby providing new insights for therapeutic intervention during chronic infections.