Eloisa Vega Quiroz

Type I interferons (IFN-I), key effectors in the antiviral innate immune response, are produced upon recognition of viral nucleic acids by pattern recognition receptors such as the RIG-I like receptors (RLRs).  RLRs are cytosolic RNA sensors that recognize specific features common to viral RNA. However, self-RNAs can also trigger RLR-dependent IFN-I responses in virus-free settings such as the tumor microenvironment, raising questions related to RLR pathway regulation in sterile contexts. My work looks to provide insight into the molecular mechanisms governing self-RNA sensing by identifying novel regulators of RLR-dependent IFN-I response, as well as exploring their impact on anti-tumor immunity.