How does the body fight viruses without harming itself?
The CIVIA-group
- Søren Riis Paludan
- Andreas Pichlmair
- David Olagnier
- Jacob Giehm Mikkelsen
- Kenneth Brad Wray
- Thomas Pradeu
- Trine Hyrup Mogensen
That question lies at the heart of research at the international consortium CiViA (Center for Immunology of Viral Infections). Here, researchers work together across borders and disciplines to rewrite the textbooks on how the immune system truly functions.
For decades, scientists believed that the body’s first line of defense against viruses was the so-called interferons, which trigger inflammation to combat viral infections.
But CiViA has uncovered something entirely new: a first line of defense that can stop viruses before inflammation even begins. This “silent defense” protects the body– without damaging healthy cells.
One groundbreaking discovery is the protein TMEFF1, which prevents herpesvirus from entering brain cells. This explains why the brain is rarely affected by viruses, even though herpes is present in nearly all humans. The discovery – published in Nature – represents the first documented brain-specific antiviral mechanism ever identified.
Interdisciplinarity and the Testing Phase
CiViA is pioneering not only in the laboratory but also in its way of thinking. By integrating philosophy of science into its research, the group seeks to develop evidence-based theories in immunology: What are the fundamental principles governing immune defense against infections?
This interdisciplinary approach has led to new theories and experiments that are already reshaping our global understanding of the immune system.
CiViA’s discoveries have direct clinical implications. Physicians now test patients with severe viral infections for the genetic defects the group has identified. Cancer therapies that use viruses to attack tumors are being refined thanks to their findings. During the Covid-19 pandemic, research from the CiViA scientists helped explain why some people become severely ill while others do not.
These insights are opening new avenues for treatments. This includes viral infections, virus-based gene therapies, and potentially also non-communicable diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, where viruses are increasingly believed to accelerate disease development.