Somatic diversification of a transgenic TCR to enhance antiviral immunity and prevent immunopathology (P16)

Subject Area Immunology
Term from 2015 to 2019
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 256073931
 

Project Description

An impaired pathogen clearance in lymphopenic hosts can lead to chronic activation of the immune system. We intend to investigate the use of RNA-guided DNA endonucleases based on the CRISPR/Cas system as a means to achieve artificial somatic diversification of a transgenic TCR. We will examine whether such somatic diversification of a TCR that is specific for an LCMV-encoded antigenic peptide presented in the context of MHC II results in the emergence of a diverse repertoire of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, capable of controlling LCMV infection and preventing CD4+ cell-mediated immunopathology.
DFG Programme Collaborative Research Centres
Subproject of SFB 1160:  Immune-mediated pathology as a consequence of impaired immune reactions (IMPATH)
Applicant Institution Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
Co-Applicant Institution Max-Planck-Institut für Immunbiologie und Epigenetik
Project Head Dr. Thomas Boehm