# Gammaherpesvirus and IL-17: using host antibacterial defense to benefit chronic virus infection

> **NIH NIH R21** · MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN · 2021 · $214,110

## Abstract

Abstract
Gammaherpesviruses establish infection in >95% of adults and are associated with multiple cancers, including
B cell lymphomas. These viruses usurp B cell differentiation by infecting naïve B cells and driving entry of
latently infected and bystander B cells into a germinal center response to ultimately achieve life-long latency in
memory B cells. Importantly, the germinal center response is highly mutagenic and is thought to be the target
of viral transformation. The mechanisms by which gammaherpesviruses usurp B cell differentiation, including
germinal center response, are largely unknown. This proposal is based on our discovery that IL-17A
selectively promotes the gammaherpesvirus-driven germinal center response and viral reactivation, two
processes that are associated with increased risk of viral lymphomagenesis. IL-17A is induced by and
contributes to the clearance of bacterial and fungal pathogens, with our studies revealing an unexpected
proviral role of this cytokine. The proposed studies test the hypothesis that natural induction of IL-17A by
bacterial pathogens is usurped by gammaherpesviruses to promote germinal center response and
viral reactivation. The proposed studies will determine the extent to which a systemic or anatomically
restricted bacterial infection impacts gammaherpesvirus-driven germinal center response and viral reactivation
and use host and bacterial genetics to define the role of IL-17A in this process. Successful completion of the
proposed studies will for the first time define the impact of natural IL-17A induction by common bacterial
pathogens on the key pathogenic processes associated with viral lymphomagenesis and will provide insight
into novel approaches to target susceptibility to virus-driven lymphomas.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10283264
- **Project number:** 1R21CA263018-01
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN
- **Principal Investigator:** Vera L. Tarakanova
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $214,110
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10283264

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10283264, Gammaherpesvirus and IL-17: using host antibacterial defense to benefit chronic virus infection (1R21CA263018-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10283264. Licensed CC0.

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