Innate Immunity and Infection

Viral infections in the brain can have devastating consequences, potentially triggering neurodegenerative processes. A well-regulated immune response is therefore essential to protect neural function and maintain homeostasis. Our research focuses on understanding both innate and adaptive immune reactions to viral infections in the brain. Given the complex interplay between different cell types in the central nervous system, we employ cell-specific labeling of newly synthesized proteins to study astrocyte responses during the course of infection. By analyzing these dynamic interactions, our data provide critical insights into how different cell populations contribute to the brain’s defense mechanisms. This knowledge lays the foundation for identifying key intervention points to modulate immune responses and mitigate infection-induced damage.

Unlike peripheral tissues, the brain exhibits highly specialized regulation of type I IFN responses, both at the level of distinct cell types—such as neurons, astrocytes, and microglia—and across different brain regions. This spatially restricted IFN signaling ensures effective viral control while minimizing neuroinflammation and preserving neural function. Neurons often exhibit a tightly controlled, low-level IFN response, while glial cells can mount robust antiviral defenses. Moreover, brain region-specific differences in IFN activity suggest a finely tuned immune surveillance system adapted to local cellular environments. We aim to understand these unique regulatory mechanisms in different cell types as essential for developing targeted therapies against neurotropic viral infections.

Viral infections can profoundly influence antiviral responses not only within tissues but also at critical biological barriers, including the blood-brain barrier, choroid plexus, meninges, and placenta. These effects may result from direct viral action or indirectly through inflammation-induced disruption. Compromise of such barriers facilitates viral entry into the central nervous system and, in pregnant individuals, transmission to the developing embryo. Infections during key stages of development can lead to lasting alterations in brain structure and function, with potential long-term neurological consequences. Elucidating the mechanisms by which viruses breach and impair these protective barriers is crucial for designing strategies to prevent vertical transmission and safeguard the central nervous system.