| |||
Interaction of SARS-Coronavirus and bunyaviruses with the interferon systemProjektbeschreibung:The fastest responding branch of our immune defense is the interferon (IFN) system. As an immediate response to infection, cells synthesize and secrete alpha/beta IFNs. Uninfected cells throughout the organism sense the IFN molecules and activate a signal transduction chain which results in the synthesis of more than 300 different proteins. These proteins have antiviral activity, inhibiting viral replication at the levels of genome replication, mRNA transcription or translation. Other IFN-induced factors inhibit cell growth or shape the specific immune response. In order to establish infection, viruses circumvent the IFN system. They inhibit IFN synthesis, bind and inactivate secreted IFN molecules, block IFN-activated signaling, or disturb the action of IFN-induced antiviral proteins. We investigate the interaction of the IFN system with selected RNA viruses, namely SARS-coronavirus, the etiologic agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome, and the bunyaviruses. The family Bunyaviridae contains several members that cause encephalitis or hemorrhagic fevers in man e.g. Hantaan, Rift Valley fever, La Crosse and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever viruses. Both SARS-CoV and bunyaviruses are posing an increasing threat to human health, examples of the so-called "Emerging Infections". Our project is aimed at (i) the host-encoded IFN-induced proteins which are responsible for the antiviral effect against SARS-CoV and bunyaviruses, (ii) identifying viral proteins with anti-IFN activity, and (iii) characterizing their IFN-antagonistic mechanism. Our studies may lead to the identification of virulence mechanisms and host defense factors which influence the outcome of infection with these emerging pathogens.Projektlaufzeit: Projektbeginn: 01.12.2000Projektleitung: Weber, FriedemannKooperationspartner Volker Thiel, Kantonsspital St. Gallen/Switzerland. Rune Hartmann and Sören Poludan, University of Aarhus,Denmark.Finanzierung:
Projektbezogene Publikationen:
Aktueller Forschungsbericht |