AG Eiz-Vesper

Our research is focusing on the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules and the induction of antigen-specific adaptive as well as innate immune responses. This includes structural characterization of MHC genes through direct sequencing, functional studies to determine peptide binding motifs from recombinant MHC molecules, as well as the identification and expansion of HLA/ligand-specific T cells. In particular the work focuses on the identification of anti-tumor as well as antiviral T-cell epitopes and the characterization and expansion of ligand-specific T cells. The work also includes the influence of heat shock protein (HSP) 70-mediated cross-presentation of target antigens, the role of suppressors of cytokine signalling (SOCS) in T-cell function and the signalling pathways involved.