About this Research Topic
CMV infection promotes broad peripheral inflammatory responses, driving memory inflation and contraction of circulating naïve cells, both characteristic of chronic CMV exposure. CMV-driven memory inflation is mainly observed in terminally differentiated CD8 T cells and is characterized by downregulation of costimulatory receptors, upregulation of NK-receptors, and increased production of inflammatory and cytotoxic molecules. CMV also expands NKG2C+ ‘memory’ NK cells during both acute and latent infection, including multiple populations with activating, cytotoxic ability.
CMV infection, both primary infection in naïve recipients and reactivation in latently infected recipients, is common post-transplant even in patients receiving routine prophylaxis.
Despite this, risk factors for CMV infection are poorly understood and tools to detect infection are not sensitive enough to prevent viremia. Additionally, it is not known how CMV infection and associated immunological changes relate to long-term graft injury and rejection.
To address these issues, immunologic and virologic studies, particularly those using systems biology tools to profile multiple components of the host and virus, are needed to understand mechanisms of post-transplant CMV infection, downstream immune alterations, and clinical outcomes. Specifically, identifying factors that can predict patients at highest risk of CMV infection or post-infection graft injury are vital in improving prophylaxis, antiviral treatment, and post-infection monitoring.
This topic is focused on original research identifying host responses or viral factors that:
1) predict CMV primary infection and reactivation pre- or early post-transplant
2) could be used detect CMV primary infection and reactivation prior to development of peripheral viremia
3) associate with duration/severity of CMV viremia/disease
4) are altered by CMV infection and associate with long-term graft injury/rejection.
The Research Topic will also focus on changes and features of host immune system impacted by CMV infections
Keywords: CMV, transplantation, immunology, graft injury, rejection, systems biology, virology, omics, cell-free DNA
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