VAPPL
Viral Antigen Processing & Presentation Lab
Exploring HLA class I antigen processing and prevention in viral immune detection and evasion
Our Research
MHC class I molecules (HLA in humans) are essential for orchestrating immune responses to tumours and pathogen-infected cells. They do this by presenting protein fragments (peptides) from pathogen and tumour proteins at the cell surface for surveillance by immune cells. When CD8+ T cells detect a foreign (viral) peptide presented by MHC-I, they will proceed to lysing the target cell.
To evade immune detection, viruses have evolved strategies to manipulate MHC-I molecules. Alternatively, viruses can interfere with other proteins of the antigen processing and pathway that are involved in the generation, selection and loading of peptides on MHC-I.
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With our research, we aim to better understand the MHC-I pathway in virus infections to i) gain a better understanding of immune detection of virus-infected cells and ii) to explore novel strategies by which viruses evade MHC-I pathway proteins.​ This has important translational potential given the importance of MHC molecules in infectious disease, cancer, and autoimmunity.
