The Problem
Humans encounter a plethora of microbes daily. Immune cells are the first responders to fend off pathogens, but can also cause life-threatening hyperinflammatory dysregulation. We focus on viral infection, where this balance is particularly precarious. Viruses and cytokines are prime inducers of inflammation, but cell-intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including cell identity, tissue environment and even diet, influence immune responses. Another regulatory layer comes from past inflammatory encounters, which result in durable epigenetic memory that alters secondary immune responses. This inflammatory memory impacts secondary inflammatory responses and disease pathology. There is a gap in our understanding of how cells integrate this myriad of immunological and environmental cues to mount adequate responses and establish memory.
