Dr. Alexander Boyden was awarded a two-year R21 research grant entitled “Gamma herpesvirus impact on required B cell:CD4 T interactions in a B cell-dependent, antibody-independent mouse model of multiple sclerosis” from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

This work continues Dr. Boyden’s pursuit of understanding how viral infection may influence B cell:T cell interactions in driving immune-mediated demyelinating disease, initially began through pilot funding from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Specifically, the project investigates the impact of a B cell-tropic Epstein Barr Virus-like mouse gamma herpesvirus (in collaboration with Dr. Jessica Tucker, Department of Microbiology and Immunology) on pathogenesis and B cell behavior in B cell-dependent vs. B cell-independent mouse models of multiple sclerosis. Findings from this work will bolster larger grant proposals and provide novel insights into how virally-infected B cells influence autoreactive CD4 T cell biology.