Study of the role of polymorphisms within KIR and HLA-C in the immune control of Cytomegalovirus infection

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The immune system is mediated by the action of white cells in blood which kill cells infected by viruses. The recognition of virally-infected cells depends on a large number of proteins on the white cells and many of these are very variable between different individuals. This variation has probably occurred as it offers better protection for populations in response to infection but it is now clear that this genetic variation in a family of proteins called KIR can have a big influence on the progress of diseases such as infection and auto-immune disease.Cytomegalovirus is a very common viral infection and studies from bone marrow transplant patients has shown that the KIR genes determine the chance that CMV infection will reactivate when patients have a weakened immune system.Here we will determine how a persons KIR gene profile determines how they handle chronic infection with CMV. In particular we will establish if they help to prevent infection, whether they alter the size and nature of the immune response to established infection and also how they exert their effects using laboratory and clinical models. This work will be of significant value in understanding the biological role of this important gene family.