Induction of type I interferon (IFN) signaling is critical for host defense against most viruses; however, for some pathogens, including the parasite that causes malaria, induction of type I IFN-mediated pathways enhances host susceptibility to disease. In this episode, Ashraful Haque discusses results from a collaboration with Christian Engwerda that demonstrates pathogen-dependent type I IFN responses in a murine model of severe malaria inhibit the ability of conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) to promote Th1-mediated immunity. The results from this study suggest that limiting type I IFN signaling in cDCs could enhance long-term protection against malaria and other pathogens that promote type I IFN signaling.
Many pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and protozoan parasites, suppress cellular immune responses through activation of type I IFN signaling. Recent evidence suggests that immune suppression and susceptibility to the malaria parasite,
Ashraful Haque, Shannon E. Best, Marcela Montes de Oca, Kylie R. James, Anne Ammerdorffer, Chelsea L. Edwards, Fabian de Labastida Rivera, Fiona H. Amante, Patrick T. Bunn, Meru Sheel, Ismail Sebina, Motoko Koyama, Antiopi Varelias, Paul J. Hertzog, Ulrich Kalinke, Sin Yee Gun, Laurent Rénia, Christiane Ruedl, Kelli P.A. MacDonald, Geoffrey R. Hill, Christian R. Engwerda