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
