Antiviral IFNs and NK cells in COVID-19 (A01)

• Subject Area: Parasitology and Biology of Tropical Infectious Disease Pathogens
• Term: from 2010 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 114933180

Disproportionate production of antiviral interferons (IFNs) is believed to directly or indirectly contribute to hyperinflammation and organ damage in severe COVID-19. In this study, we aim for a better characterization of type I and III IFNs as well as of the functionally linked NK cells during the course of COVID-19 and across severity groups. The transcriptional profile of IFN-producing myeloid cell types as well as NK cell subsets will be examined by single cell RNA sequencing of longitudinally collected samples. Type I and III IFN levels in plasma and respiratory tract secretions will be measured by hypersensitive ELISA, and their gene expression in oropharyngeal material will be assessed by quantitative RT-PCR. The results will be analyzed together with microbiome and metabolome data obtained in project A05 to test if the patient’s microbiota are influencing IFN production and NK cell activity.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 84: Innate Immunity of the Lung: Mechanisms of Pathogen Attack and Host Defence in Pneumonia
• Applicant Institution: shared FU Berlin and HU Berlin through:; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Stefan Bauer, until 6/2018; Professor Dr. Andreas Diefenbach, since 7/2018; Professor Dr. Bastian Opitz