Jolanda Lambers-Scherrenburg investigated EBV- and CMV-specific T cell responses in patients with a reduced defense mechanism as a result of an infection with HIV or following stem cell transplantation.
She demonstrates that the T cell responses against the various EBV and CMV proteins have different dynamics. This means that measuring the T cell responses against one protein provides insufficient information regarding EBV- and CMV-specific T cell immunity.
The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and the Cytomegalovirus (CMV) are two herpes viruses that occur very commonly in western populations. While the primary infection with these viruses hardly ever has any clinical symptoms, an infection or reinfection with these viruses in people with an immune disorder can lead to a very severe illness.
Jolanda Lambers-Scherrenburg will receive her PhD from Utrecht University on April 23.