Description:

Title:

ASC-Dependent Inflammasomes Contribute to Immunopathology and Mortality in Herpes Simplex Encephalitis

Speaker: Cooper Hayes, Graduate Student/ Longecker Lab

Host: Richard Longnecker, PhD

Abstract:

Herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSE) is the most common cause of sporadic viral encephalitis, and despite targeted antiviral therapy, outcomes remain poor. Although the innate immune system is critical for restricting herpes simplex virus type-I (HSV-1) in the brain, there is evidence that prolonged neuroinflammation contributes to HSE pathogenesis. We investigated the contribution of inflammasomes to disease pathogenesis in a murine model of HSE and found that ASC-dependent inflammasomes contribute to mortality and immunopathology. The contribution of inflammasomes to survival was independent of viral replication, suggesting a promising new target in combating harmful inflammation in HSE.