Professor Professor Nigel Stevenson
Assistant Professor in Viral Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute
- Research Institute:
Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute
- Contact e-mail:
- Thematic Area:
Translational Immunology Studies and Therapeutics/ Vaccine Studies
Research Profile:
Prof. Stevenson’s Viral Immunology group studies the mechanisms by which viruses (SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-1, HIV, HCV and RSV) target and evade immune responses. The group investigates how viruses block intracellular signalling cascades, such as the JAK/STAT and NF-kB pathways and explores immune regulation via intracellular Suppressor of Cytokine Signalling (SOCS) proteins. College Profile
COVID-19 Project:
This project will investigate how the innate immune system responds to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Using both primary human cells from infected patients and primary immune cells and cell lines infected with replicating SARS-CoV-2, we will study innate immune intracellular signalling and the subsequent production of inflammatory and anti-viral cytokines. We are particularly interested in how Type 1 Interferons signal via the JAK/STAT pathway, leading to the upregulation of hundreds of anti-viral genes and the subsequent clearance of viral infection. We will assess mechanisms whereby SARS-CoV-2 proteins modulate and evade innate immune detection, and how it blocks responses to Type 1 Interferons. This will allow us to more fully understand viral pathogenesis and may inform the development of more effective therapeutics to treat COVID-19.
