Hosted by Cardiff University's School of Medicine
The innate immune response is critical for host defence against viruses. Cell-intrinsic mechanisms detect virus presence and restrict virus replication. Nucleic acids are often a molecular signature of infection and are recognised by receptors including Toll-like receptors, RIG-I-like receptors and cytosolic DNA sensors. These receptors signal for the induction of innate response genes such as those encoding type I interferons. These then induce the expression of restriction factors, host proteins that limit virus replication. Our work focuses on cytosolic nucleic acid sensors, in particular RIG-I, MDA5, ZBP1 and cGAS. We use in vitro and in vivo models of virus infections and are interested in rare genetic diseases linked to chronic anti-viral innate immune responses. In this presentation, I will discuss our recent work on MDA5.
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Bio: Jan is interested in the molecular mechanisms underlying host-pathogen interactions. In particular, Jan studies how cells detect virus infection. His work lies at the intersection of immunology, virology and molecular biology.
Following his PhD at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), he joined the group of Caetano Reis e Sousa, then at the Cancer Research UK London Research Institute. Jan investigated how RNA viruses such as influenza A virus are recognised by innate immune sensors, particularly RIG-I. In 2012, Jan moved to the University of Oxford, UK, to establish his independent research group. Jan's research dissects nucleic acid sensing by innate receptors in the context of virus infection, autoinflammatory disease and cancer. Jan's work is funded by the MRC, Wellcome Trust, Lister Institute and European Union.