Section: Research

Francis Ennis, M.D.

Academic Role: Professor

Faculty Appointment(s) In:
   Infectious Diseases and Immunology
   Medicine
   Molecular Genetics and Microbiology

Other Affiliation(s):
   Center for AIDS Research
   Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research
   Clinical and Population Health Research
   Program in Immunology and Virology

Immune response of host to virus infections, emphasizing cellular responses

Overall themes:

• Human Immune Responses
• Immunopathology to Virus Infections and
• Failure to Eliminate Virus in Persistent Infection

A. T cell triggered and cytokine mediated immunopathology.

We hypothesize that certain virus infections e.g. Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF), or the Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) may be due to "over"responses of dengue or hantavirus specific T cells in certain high-responders, due to immune responses genes. These T cell responses are needed for clearance of virus-infected cells but marked inflammatory responses probably mediated by cytokines, cause endothelial cell leakness and shock (DHF) or pulmonary edema (HPS). We are defining CD4+ and CD8+ T cell epitopes, determining the Th1 and Th2 cytokine responses at the protein and m-RNA levels and by immunocytochemistry. TCR usage is determined, and correlations with disease phenotypes are studied.

Immunopathogenesis of DHF

B. Failure to Eliminate Virus in HCV Infection

Failure of immune response to eliminate HCV infection is very common and chronic progression liver disease frequently results. Is this due to a poor CD8+ T cell response in those individuals? We are also developing CD8+ T cell clones from the liver tissues and blood cells of patients with HCV infections. We will determine whether interferon therapy which is the only known treatment, alters the HCV+ CD8+ CTL responses in the patients who respond to therapy or those that do not. We are also defining Th1, Th2 cytokine patterns in liver tissues by immunocytochemistry.

Office: S6-860
Phone: 508-856-4182
Fax: 508-856-4890
E-mail: Francis.Ennis@umassmed.edu
Keywords: Immunology, Virology, Clinical Research

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