Lung virus disrupts immune system

In her doctoral thesis, Patricia de Graaff concludes that respiratory infections caused by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are harmful not only because of the virus, but also as a result of the body’s disrupted immune response.

RSV is especially dangerous for elderly people and young children, and every year 600 people die of this in the Netherlands. There is as yet no vaccine for RSV. De Graaff describes the structure of the viral proteins recognized by the immune cells. She also concludes that dendritic cells – which present viral proteins to the immune system – inhibit the response of the T cells to destroy the virus.

Patricia de Graaff: "T cell responses specific for Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Aspects of antigen presentation"