Viral Immunology and Immunopathology - The Karupiah Group

Our research aims are directed towards a better understanding of virus-host interactions and the immune response to viral infection with a view to developing more effective vaccination strategies and selective treatments that would minimise the damaging effects of an established infection.

Our research program uses mouse models of viral infections, which are validated to predict human immune mechanisms. The immune effector mechanisms that are generated to control and clear virus instead often cause immunopathology that has serious, sometimes lethal, consequences for the host. We have therefore directed our research effort toward dissecting out the immunological parameters that allow the rapid resolution of virus infection with minimum pathology. These studies are being carried out in parallel with others that attempt to reveal the many strategies that viruses have evolved to subvert the host immune response.

Expertise

  • Vaccinia virus
  • Ectromelia virus
  • Influenza A virus
  • Herpes simplex virus 1
  • Recombinant and mutant viruses
  • Innate immunity
  • Adaptive immunity
  • Mouse models of viral infection and disease
  • Immunopathology
  • Vaccines and vaccination strategies

Projects

Mechanisms of protection of the host by virus-encoded tumour necrosis factor receptor (vTNFR) homolog

We are studying how poxvirus-encoded vTNFR homologs subvert, dampen or evade the host immune response to gain a better insight into the workings of the mammalian TNF-TNFR signalling pathway during virus-infection induced inflammation.

Novel approaches to treatment of viral pneumonia

Viral infection-induced pneumonia is a consequence of an over-exuberant immune response associated with dysregulated inflammatory cytokine production. There is currently no specific treatment available for this condition, including influenza pneumonia. We are using a mouse model of influenza A virus infection to investigate how viral pneumonia can be treated.

Induction of long-lived, protective antiviral antibody responses

We are investigating why live viral vaccines, in contrast to inactivated vaccines, induce life-long antibody responses.

Affiliation

Biomedical Sciences

School of Medicine

Contact

Email: Guna.Karupiah@utas.edu.au

Group leader

  • Guna Karupiah

Group members

  • Pratikshya Pandey
  • Rajendra Kc