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One million euros for European study on innate immunity to viruses / Study led at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg

One in two people in Germany is infected with the cytomegalovirus (HCMV). An infection can be life-threatening for immunocompromised people and unborn babies. Under the direction of Prof. Dr. Hartmut Hengel, Medical Director of the Institute for Virology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, researchers from the European network TANKACY are now investigating how the virus manipulates the immune system and which therapeutic approaches are promising. The scientists will receive funding of around one million euros from the European Union's 7th Framework Program from 1 July 2016. In addition to the Freiburg researchers, scientists from the Pasteur Institute (Paris, France), the Weizmann Institute (Rehovot, Israel) and Spanish university hospitals in Madrid and Barcelona are also involved in the consortium. The Freiburg research project will receive around 450,000 euros as part of TANKACY.

Natural killer cells (NK) play an important role in the immune defense against HCMV. These killer cells are part of the innate immune system and can spontaneously recognize and kill virus-infected cells. HCMV is different: "Scientists from our consortium have discovered that HCMV can trigger the development of so-called adaptive NK cells," says Prof. Hengel. "The virus implants a kind of memory into the immune cells, which are actually unchangeable; possibly in order to spare itself permanently and at the same time make the defense cells more effective against other pathogens," continues Hengel. Only HCMV and no other known virus appears to possess such a property.

The TANKACY ("Targeting Natural Killer Cells Against Cytomegalovirus") research consortium will use a new mouse model and human cells to investigate the molecular basis of this manipulation process and the possible clinical consequences of HCMV infection in humans. "We will also be researching new immunotherapeutic approaches," says Prof. Hengel.

HCMV, which belongs to the group of herpes viruses, is transmitted by droplet and smear infection, saliva, blood or breast milk, among other things, and persists in infected people for life. Infection before birth can lead to hearing damage, coagulation disorders and physical or mental disabilities in the child. In immunocompromised people, for example after a transplant, the infection can trigger inflammation of the liver, lungs and brain, among other things, and can be fatal.

Further information:

Institute for Virology

Contact:
Prof. Dr. Hartmut Hengel
Medical Director
Institute for Virology
Medical Center - University of Freiburg
Phone: 0761 203-6534
hartmut.hengel@uniklinik-freiburg.de