Immune Regulation of COVID-19 Infection in Cancer and Autoimmunity

Abstract:The Emory U54 SeroNET U54 program is a multidisciplinary program that brings togetherexperienced team of investigators to tackle fundamental issues relating to immunity toSARS CoV-2, particular in patients with cancer and autoimmunity. The team has a longtrack record of prior work in basic and translational studies in the setting of viral infections,vaccines and cancer. The program consists of 3 interacting projects and two essentialcores in addition to the administrative core. Studies in project 1 (led by Sanz) will studythe biology of SARS CoV-2 specific effector B cell responses in patients withautoimmunity, with a particular focus on extrafollicular B cell pathway. Studies in project2 (led by Sekaly and Wrammert) will study the role of inflammatory milieu in regulatingantiviral immunity and in the development of long term memory responses. Studies inproject 3 (led by Dhodapkar and Ahmed) will focus on studying the impact of specificcancer therapies, in particular B/plasma cell depleting therapies in patients with B/plasmacell malignancies, and immune checkpoint blockade in patients with lung cancer. Thesestudies will also set the stage for studying immune responses to future SARS CoV-2vaccines in patients with autoimmunity as well as cancer patients. The programs aresupported by active cores (led by Roback and Neish) which have experience withmonitoring immunity to SARS CoV-2. Together, this program will not only provide basicinsights into immune-pathogenesis of COVID, but also provide the consortium withaccess to unique patient populations at higher risk of COVID-related mortality.