How our bodies fight off viral infections
Regulation of Host Innate Immunity Against Viral Infection
This research explores how our immune system recognizes and fights off common viruses like coronaviruses and influenza, and how viruses try to get around these defenses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11109421 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our bodies have special sensors, like RIG-I and MDA5, inside our cells that detect when viruses like the flu or COVID-19 try to infect us. When these sensors find a virus, they trigger an alarm that tells our body to make protective proteins called interferons, which stop the virus from spreading. However, viruses are clever and have ways to block these alarms. This project focuses on understanding how one of these sensors, MDA5, gets activated and how a specific protein called ISG15 helps it fight off viruses like SARS-CoV-2, Zika, and dengue. By understanding these steps, we hope to find new ways to boost our natural defenses against viral infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients who could benefit from future treatments developed from this basic understanding include those susceptible to or suffering from severe viral infections like COVID-19, influenza, Zika, or dengue.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have viral infections or conditions related to immune system responses to viruses may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could lead to new treatments that strengthen our immune system's ability to fight off a wide range of viral infections, including coronaviruses.
How similar studies have performed: While the general mechanisms of how our bodies detect viruses are well-known, this specific work builds on a recent discovery about how the MDA5 sensor is activated, making parts of this approach novel.
Where this research is happening
Cleveland, United States
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru — Cleveland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gack, Michaela Ulrike — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Gack, Michaela Ulrike
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.