Alphaherpesviruses and the innate antiviral defence in the respiratory and genital tract: a fight for supremacy

Alphaherpesvirus infections cause respiratory and genital problems in humans and animals. In the present project proposal, it will be examined how alphaherpesviruses cross different barriers of the respiratory and genital mucosa (mucus, defensins, basement membrane) and how they escape local innate immunity (interferon, ILC/NK cells). The research results will contribute to the development of new/better drugs and vaccines.