Study of the T cell response in SARS

A new illness causing fever, cough, pulmonary infiltration and respiratory failure was first recognised in Southern China (Guangdong and Hong Kong) in November 2003. The constellation of symptoms has subsequently been termed Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Although the majority of cases reside in mainland China and Hong Kong the disease has now been identified in around 20 countries worldwide. The causative agent for SARS has been shown to be a virus belonging to the coronavirus family. This virus is related in sequence to other members of the coronavirus family which in humans is responsible for the common cold. Many questions about SARS pathogenesis remain to be answered and in addition there is an urgent need to investigate new treatments and the possibility of vaccine development. We propose to study T cell responses to infection with SARS virus in cohorts of infected patients recruited in China, Hong Kong and possibly Oxford if an outbreak occurs in our area. The essential question will be whether T cell immune responses to SARS are good or bad in the disease progression. Although T cell immunity plays an important role in controlling many virus infections, it may also, if unchecked, result in tissue damages and immunopathogenesis. Therefore, a fuller understanding of the pathogenesis of SARS infection and also the immunological correlates of immunity will be beneficial in terms of vaccine design and treatment.