Bogunovic, Dusan PHD
Icahn School of Medicine
Icahn School of Medicine
Type I Interferons (IFNs) are important in infection and inflammation. The purpose of this study is to delineate the role of key regulators of IFN response, ISG15 and USP18, via the study of rare ISG15 deficient and USP18 deficient humans. Improved understanding of how ISG15 and USP18 regulate IFN-mediated immune responses will inform the design of both anti-inflammatory and anti-infective therapeutics.
Down syndrome is principally caused by trisomy of chromosome 21, resulting in extra copies of the interferon receptors, IFNAR1 and IFNAR2. Signaling through these IFN receptors to initiates the highly potent antiviral and inflammatory functions of the type I Interferons (IFNs) response. The purpose of this study is to understand how altered IFN receptor availability, as is the case in Downs syndrome individuals, impact the SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis.