Sam Bass, B. S., Biology
University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Ph.D. Student in Immunology
E-mail: samuel.bass@tufts.edu

Mammalian genomes have accumulated retroviral DNA over thousands of years. HERV-K18 and murine mammary tumor virus (MMTV) are two such viruses. Both encode functional superantigens (SAg) that can stimulate a strong immune response and have immunomodulatory effects that may be relevant to autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Understanding the mechanisms that induce expression of these SAgs can lead to new insights into the acquisition of autoimmunity. To this end, I am examining the role of TLR7 signaling in the regulation of HERV and MMTV expression.