My research examines the role of NK cells and their ligands in the control of viral infections. NK cells are a heterogeneous population of lymphocytes capable of targeting and killing infected cells, as well as contributing to the priming of the adaptive immune response.
e Heusel lab is interested in the murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) encoded m157 gene product. m157 is able to bind the murine NK cell activating receptor Ly49H, which confers resistance to MCMV in the B6 strain. m157 is expressed on the infected cell surface as a GPI anchored protein. My current research explores the importance of the GPI anchor in interactions with Ly49H, both in cis and in trans, by using recombinant transmembrane m157 constructs and recombinant MCMV. Additional projects in our lab include studying the role of NK cells in influenza infection. Our preliminary studies of influenza infection in NK cell-depleted mice show an increase in both morbidity and mortality compared to wild type controls. My goals are to determine how NK cells traffic to the lymph nodes and lung in healthy and infected animals, and to elucidate whether direct killing of influenza-infected cells by NK cells or NK priming of the adaptive immune system is responsible for the increased morbidity in NK cell-depleted influenza infected mice.
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