Unravelling the complexities of virus and host interactions in the Viral Immunology Systems Program, NHMRC, ACH2, National Institutes of Health

Abstract

The focus of the VISP is on studies of the epidemiology, immunopathogenesis, treatment and prevention of hepatitis C (HCV) infection, with field studies focused on individuals who are at risk of infection via injecting drug use in the prison setting, including prospective cohorts examining transmission, health service studies evaluating improved models of assessment and treatment, and a clinical trial of treatment as prevention. This field research is closely integrated with a laboratory-based research program which is investigating virus and host factors associated with protective immunity against HCV - to inform vaccine design. The laboratory studies are using clinical data and blood samples from the field linked with cutting edge techniques including next generation 'deep' sequencing', multi-parameter flow cytometry and single cell transcriptomics. These studies aim to understand the evolution of HCV, which is a rapidly mutating RNA virus, as well as the role of virus neutralizing antibodies and HCV-specific T and B cells in the context of early acute infection and re-infection.