Convergent suppression as a mechanism for persistence of hepatitis C virus in a human in vitro system

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Title Convergent suppression as a mechanism for persistence of hepatitis C virus in a human in vitro system
Publication Type dissertation
School or College School of Medicine
Department Pathology
Author Cusick, Mattew Francis
Date 2010-12
Description Although a causal relationship between hepatitis C virus (HCV) persistence and regulatory T cells (Tregs) has been purported, to date, no one has demonstrated how the induction of Tregs occurs. The central question of this dissertation was to address if HCV exploits known CD4+ T cell suppressive mechanisms to cause persistent infection in humans. The central finding of these studies was that naturally occurring viral variants of HCV that emerged in a major histocompatibility complex class II epitope of the nonstructural- 3 protein were acting as altered peptide ligands possibly leading to the differentiation of HCV specific CD4+ effector T cells into Tregs. To our knowledge, this work is the first demonstration of naturally occurring viral variants inducing Tregs, thereby defining an immunological niche that HCV is exploiting for persistence in humans.
Type Text
Publisher University of Utah
Subject MESH Hepacivirus; Hepatitis C; Genes, Antigens, Major Histocompatibility Complex; T-Lymphocytes; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; Antigens, CD4; Genetic Markers; Forkhead Transcription Factors
Dissertation Institution University of Utah
Dissertation Name Doctor of Philosophy
Language eng
Relation is Version of Digital reproduction of Convergent Suppression as a Mechanism for Persistence of Hepatitis C Virus in a Human in Vitro System. Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library. Print version available at J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections.
Rights Management Copyright © Matthew Francis Cusick 2010
Format application/pdf
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 18,084,834 bytes
Source Original in Marriott Library Special Collections,
ARK ark:/87278/s6rj7snj
Setname ir_etd
ID 196315
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6rj7snj
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