New DFG Research Group Investigates Chronic DNA Virus Infections How herpes viruses and other DNA viruses manipulate cellular gene expression to establish lifelong infections

Chronic viral infections are a major challenge for our health system, especially in highly developed countries. Many people are infected with the DNA viruses herpesviruses, papillomaviruses, polyomaviruses and adenoviruses throughout their lives. The research group FOR5200 DEEP-DV, newly established by the German Research Foundation (DFG), aims to decipher mechanisms of human cells that cause chronic and acute infections with DNA viruses.

DNA virus infections can lead to life-threatening diseases, especially due to advancing age or other underlying diseases. Therapeutic options are limited to the acute clinical picture. There is neither a vaccination that can prevent an infection nor therapies that lead to the elimination of these viruses.

The new DFG-funded research group FOR5200 DEEP-DV (Disrupt – Evade – Exploit: Gene Expression and Manipulation of the Host Response in DNA Virus Infections), staffed by a total of twelve scientists, is investigating strategies that DNA viruses use to manipulate human cells during new infection in order to establish chronic infection. Through a research approach spanning several virus families, insights into central, conserved mechanisms can be gained that may lead to new therapy options in the long term.

The spokespersons of the research group are Prof. Melanie Brinkmann (TU Braunschweig) and Prof. Nicole Fischer (University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf), who, together with partners from the Hannover Medical School, the Leibniz Institute of Experimental Virology Hamburg, Freie Universität Berlin, the Max Delbrück Center Berlin, the University of Würzburg, the University Medical Center Ulm and the Ludwig-Maximilian Universität München, aim to research and prevent chronic viral infections.

Particularly noteworthy is the interdisciplinary composition of the research group consisting of virologists, systems biologists and bioinformaticians, as well as the application of state-of-the-art experimental methods such as genome, transcriptome and epigenome analysis and RNA-protein proteomics, combined with single cell technologies and microscopy techniques.

Research groups enable scientists to address current and pressing issues in their fields and to establish innovative working directions. The DFG currently funds 173 research groups, 14 clinical research groups and 13 collegiate research groups. The research group FOR5200 DEEP-DV is funded by the DFG for four years.