Abstract:
The interferon (IFN) system is a central component of the innate immune response to viral infection. Viral invasion triggers both antiviral and inflammatory pathways that establish host protection. While early inflammation is beneficial, excessive inflammatory responses—such as cytokine storms—can drive viral pathogenesis. Our research focuses on understanding how components of the IFN system coordinate the balance between antiviral defense and inflammation. Using both cell-based and mouse models, we have identified novel mechanisms by which the host curbs excessive inflammation to prevent cytokine-mediated damage. These findings have important translational implications for combating respiratory viral infections.
Biography:
Saurabh Chattopadhyay, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. His research investigates how viral pathogens interface with innate immune signaling pathways, with a particular focus on interferon-regulated mechanisms that shape antiviral defense and inflammatory responses. His laboratory has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Ohio Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Heart Association. Dr. Chattopadhyay earned his doctoral degree in Biotechnology from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and completed postdoctoral training in Virology at the Cleveland Clinic. Before joining the University of Kentucky, he was a faculty member at the University of Toledo College of Medicine.
