Healthy pregnancy requires a delicate balance of immunity against foreign pathogens and tolerance to foreign fetal antigens. Disruption of this balance can lead to anti-fetal inflammation and long-term sequelae from congenital infection. NK cells are one major cell type critical for modulating tolerance and immunity of the maternal-fetal interface. NK cells also play an immunogenic role in protecting against viral infections, especially herpesviruses, such as CMV.
The primary questions we ask in this project are-
- What is the role that NK cells play in protection against CMV reactivation and subsequent cCMV transmission?
- What immune interactions are required for a healthy pregnancy, and how are NK cells involved in this?
