Sandra Diebold

Our background is in viral recognition by dendritic cells and we have studied dendritic cell activation via several pattern recognition receptors in the past. The main viral pathogen-associated molecular patterns that are recognised by the innate immune system are viral nucleic acids and there are cytoplasmic and endosomal pattern recognition receptors with the ability to sense viral single-stranded RNA, viral double-stranded RNA and viral DNA. Dendritic cells are not the only cells expressing these pattern recognition receptors, but because of their crucial role in the instruction of adaptive immune responses, the mechanisms of their activation is of particular importance.<br /> <br /> We have an interest in developing new vaccination approaches for tumour immunotherapy. Tumours can express tumour-associated antigens that are recognized by the adaptive immune system. Nevertheless, tumour cells are poor inducers of immune responses since they lack stimuli such as pathogen-associated molecular patterns that efficiently activate the innate immune system. Viral nucleic acids represent ideal, molecularly defined adjuvants to promote the induction of effective anti-tumour immune responses. Therefore, we explore the application of synthetic mimics of viral nucleic acids as adjuvants in the context of tumour immunotherapy.<br />

Employing viral nucleic acid as adjuvants for cancer immunotherapy with a focus on studying the influence of innate immune activation on the induction of adaptive anti-tumour responses.