The innate immune system is essential for host defense against virus infections. Type I interferon (IFN) is particularly important for early antiviral defense, and understanding of how IFN is induced is therefore of central importance. However, IFN also possesses inflammatory activities, and can contribute to disease development if produced in high amounts or over long time. Therefore, immune mechanisms that control virus infections without inducing IFN expression may contribute to a “silent” layer of the immune system. In this presentation, I will present our recent research on how herpes simplex virus induces expression of type I IFN, and also on novel constitutive immune mechanisms that control the virus.
07/05/2021 Søren Riis Paludan (Arhus Univ., DK)