Immune response

DNA/RNA-mutating enzymes are involved in boosting adaptive and innate immunity, ranging from antibody diversification to restricting viral genomes through mutagenesis and physical sequestration. With the perspective of the immune response, we work on several different but related topics:
1. We are interested in how DNA/RNA-editing enzymes have evolved in humans and across speciation to contribute to adaptive and innate immunity.
2. We investigate the molecular mechanisms that regulate their roles in immune response.
3. We study the possible outcomes of the mutagenic activities of DNA/RNA-editing enzymes regarding anti-viral or anti-tumor immune response, and...
4. We would like to understand how viruses or cancer cells have adapted to co-evolve with or to subvert t he activities of these host DNA/RNA-editing enzymes.

Representative publications in this area:

  1. Borzooee F, Joris KS, Grant MD, Larijani M. APOBEC3G Regulation of the Evolutionary Race between Adaptive Immunity and Viral Immune Escape is Deeply Imprinted in the HIV Genome. Frontiers in Immunology. 2019. Jan 11;9:3032
  2. Borzooee F, Asgharpour M., Quinlan E., Grant M., Larijani M. Viral subversion of APOBEC3s: lessons for anti-tumor immunity and tumor immunotherapy. International Rev. Immunol. 2017. Dec 6;37(3):151-164
  3. Grant M, Larijani M. Evasion of adaptive immunity by HIV through the action of host APOBEC3G/F enzymes. AIDS Research and Therapy. 2017. 2017 Sep 12;14(1):44
  4. Squires K, Monajemi M, Woodworth CF, Grant MD, Larijani, M. Impact of APOBEC mutations on CD8+ T cells recognition of HIV epitopes varies depending on the restricting HLA. JAIDS. 2015, Oct 1;70(2):172-8
  5. Monajemi M, Woodworth CF, Zipperlen K, Gallant M, Grant MD, Larijani M. Positioning of APOBEC3G/F mutational hotspots in the human immunodeficiency virus genome favors reduced recognition by CD8+ T cells. PLOS ONE. 2014. Apr 10; 9(4):93428
  6. Martin A, Larijani M. The Biochemistry of Activation-Induced Deaminase and its physiological functions. Seminars in Immunology. 2012. Aug; 24(4):255-63
  7. Monajemi M, Woodworth C, Benkaroun J, Grant M, Larijani M. Emerging complexities of APOBEC3G action on immunity and viral fitness during HIV infection and treatment. Retrovirology. 2012 Apr 30; 9(1):35
  8. Duvvuri B, Duvvuri VR, Grigull J, Martin A, Pan-Hammerstrom Q, Wu GE, Larijani M. Altered spectrum of somatic hypermutation in Common Variable Immunodeficiency Disease characteristic of defective repair of mutations. Immunogenetics.2011. 63(1):1-11
  9. Frieder D, Larijani M, Tang E, Parsa JY, Basit W, Martin A. Antibody diversification: mutational mechanisms and oncogenesis. Immunol. Res.2006. 35(1-2):75-88
  10. Yuan SW, Agard E, Larijani M, Wu GE. Coding joint diversity in mature and immature B cell lines. Scand. Journal of Immunol. 2005. 62 Suppl 1:114-8.
Activities of DNA-editing and RNA-editing enzymes in anti-tumor immune response Cover Retrovirology 2012 dual anti-viral and pro-viral actions of DNA-editing enzymes DNA-editing enzymes are subverted by viruses to escape immune recognition

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