Viral infection models
Influenza virus
Influenza viral infection in mice results in acute pneumonia similar to that encountered when humans are infected. Multiple populations of cytotoxic (CD8+) T cells and helper (CD4+) T cells are recruited into the immune response and play a key role in resolving infection. These include T cells that recognise essential components of the influenza genome, including the nucleoprotein (NP366-374), acid polymerase (PA224-233) and basic polymerase (PB1703-711).
Murine γ-herpesvirus (γ-HV)
γ-HV is a γ2 herpesvirus that naturally infects mice. It shares many genetic and immunological similarities to Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and Epstein Barr virus. In the mouse, this virus enters via the respiratory system where it establishes an acute lytic infection. From the lung the virus is disseminated to the spleen where latent infection develops in B cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. Intriugingly, γ-HV expresses a number of viral evasion proteins such as M3 (a chemokine decoy protein), MK3 (a protein with E3 ubiquitin ligase activity) and ORF 73 that interfere with the ability of the infected host to adequately control infection. Our laboratory is investigating how this virus hijacks the immune system, particularly dendritic cells, to efficiently establish viral latency and lifelong persistent infection.