Investigating the immune response to respiratory virus infections

In recent years, mathematical approaches have helped deconvolve complex biological interactions.

The Sealfon lab has capitalized on this to study the human immune response to infections including the influenza virus and now SARS-CoV-2 using omics technologies.

Mathematical modeling can aid in defining immunological parameters that constitute protection from a particular pathogen; predicting the trajectory of disease, severity and recovery; and describing the quality, breadth and durability of protection.

We will take an exploratory approach to assess the transcriptomic and epigenetic landscape in immune cells of individuals with ongoing influenza or SARS-CoV-2 infections.

We aim to identify specific gene regulatory networks conferring innate protection, refining pathogen-specific adaptive immune responses, and improving memory responses.

In vitro studies will supplement these findings with a simplistic approach to isolate discrete cell-type specific contributions from monocytes and dendritic cell subsets to the early interplay between airway epithelial cells and respiratory viruses.

Together this data will allow us to systematically test the hypothesis that stable immune responses and long-lasting protection rely on early host-immune response and host intrinsic factors.