Victoria Iglesias Guimarais

Interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) is an important anti-viral molecule and regulator of the immune response to infectious disease. It is composed by two ubiquitin-like domains. Like ubiquitin, it can be covalently conjugated to lysine residues in proteins (ISGylation). However, it can also act as an extracellular signaling molecule, independent of protein conjugation. Secreted ISG15 has been found to evoke IFN gamma production from T-cells and natural killer cells. Nevertheless, the mechanism remains unknown. The aim of my project is to define how ISG15 impacts on T cell activation and function.