Simone Abel

Characterization of regulatory T cells during Plasmodium yoelii and murine Cytomegalovirus infection

Surviving an infection requires the generation of an immune response that controls the invading pathogen but also limits collateral damage to self tissues that may result from exuberant immune response. Over the last few years different populations of regulatory T cells (Treg), have been discussed to play a central role in the fine tuning of this controlled immune response against invading pathogens. However, the precise role of Tregs during infections remains unclear.  
Therefore, we will characterize different Treg populations isolated from established mouse models infected with murine Cytomegalovirus or with Plasmodium yoelii with regard to the site of induction and / or expansion, their suppressive mechanism and their gene expression profile to identify differentially expressed molecules and pathways. Based on these results T cells will be genetically modified with regard to the identified molecules and monitored for their influence on the susceptibility and course of infectious diseases in vivo. Our results might contribute to a better understanding in Treg biology during different infections, which is prerequisite for the use of Treg as therapeutical targets for the treatment of infectious diseases.

1st supervisor: Dr. Wiebke Hansen
2nd supervisor: Prof. Dr. Hartmut Hengel

Institute:
Department of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen

Telephone: +49 (0)201 - 723 - 3069
E-mail: simone.abel@uk-essen.de