CELLULAR LOCALIZATION AND IMMUNE RESPONSE TO JC VIRUS

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Hypothesis: The purpose of this protocol is to identify where JC virus (JCV) resides in the body and how the immune system can prevent it to cause a lethal brain disease called Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML). We are looking at the compartmentalization and quantitation of JCV in the body(urine, plasma, PBMC and CSF) since it's not clear where and how abundant the virus is as well as the immune response against it. Our hypothesis is that JCV can be detected in the urine, blood and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with PML, and that specific changes in the viral DNA are responsible for its neurotropism and neurovirulence. In addition, we hypothesize that the cellular immune response against JCV is a crucial component of the fight against this virus. Our specific aims are to define where the virus reside in the body, characterize its molecular structure, and define the cellular immune response in PML patients and control subjects. We are looking for the localization of the JCV in different compartments and quantitating it, while dissecting the immune response. We will also determine whether we can stimulate cells responsible for this immune response in the test tube. The ultimate goal of these studies is to devise ways to improve the immune response against JCV, that may help patients with PML.