Live from the Lab with Professor Christopher Benedict, Ph.D.

Описание: On June 20, 2023 La Jolla Institute for Immunology Associate Professor Christopher Benedict, Ph.D., discussed the surprising ways that viruses escape detection by our immune system and the exciting research underway that could help the body hunt down invaders. Dr. Benedict's work has shed light on how viruses such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr (Mono), and chicken pox/shingles (varicella zoster) viruses put up "smokescreens" to trick human immune cells. These strategies facilitate viral replication, and in some cases help them establish lifelong infections that we can never clear. Most people get infected with Epstein-Barr virus at some point in their lives and more than half of the U.S. population will be infected with CMV, the most common infectious cause of birth defects, by the time they hit 40 years old.

In this Live from the Lab discussion, Dr. Benedict described how he and his team are building an understanding of the viral strategies that allow these diseases to evade detection by our immune system, which could lead to important vaccine discoveries – and ultimately work towards Life Without Disease®.

Expert insights during the virtual discussion were also provided by the Institute's Chief Scientific Officer Mitchell Kronenberg, Ph.D. Technical expertise was shared during the laboratory component of the presentation by Benedict Lab Manager Eduardo Lucero Meza.

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Learn more about La Jolla Institute for Immunology at: https://www.lji.org

About us:

La Jolla Institute for Immunology is dedicated to understanding the intricacies and power of the immune system so that we may apply that knowledge to promote human health and prevent a wide range of diseases, including deadly infections, autoimmune conditions, cancers, and allergies. Since its founding in 1988 as an independent, nonprofit research organization, the Institute has made numerous advances leading toward its goal: life without disease. Visit lji.org for more information.