Mechanisms of interferon induction by hepatitis D virus and impact of chronic innate immune activation on antiviral immunity (08)

• Subject Area: Immunology
• Term: from 2016 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 272983813

Chronic virus infections can mediate persistent activation of the innate immune system and result in a dysfunctional immune response. The activation of interferon signaling in chronic viral hepatitis correlates with more severe disease, but also with a favorable prognosis of organ acceptance in the setting of liver transplantation. The aim of this project is to establish models of chronic HDV infection that induces innate immunity by yet poorly understood mechanisms. We will define the innate sensing and signaling pathways that are engaged upon HDV infection and decipher the functional consequences of chronic innate immune activation on cellular immunity in vitro and in vivo.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 179: Determinants and dynamics of elimination versus persistence of hepatitis virus infection
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Project Heads: Dr. Felix Mark Bohne, until 6/2016; Professor Dr. Veit Hornung; Professor Dr. Percy Alexander Knolle