Dr Phil Stevenson
Research description
Herpesviruses are ubiquitous persistent parasites that commonly cause disease when host immunity is impaired. Immune evasion is a key part of their lifecycle. We are using a natural murid gamma-herpesvirus, MHV-68, to define some of the underlying molecular mechanisms. Current areas of interest include antibody evasion, particularly the evasion of neutralization; mechanisms of intercellular viral spread; and viral manipulation of host dendritic cells. We are also using influenza virus to identify ways in which the antibody response to antigenically varying pathogens might be improved.