Determine whether differences in TLR-responsiveness alter susceptibility to Biodefense priority pathogens using WN virus as a paradigm or responsiveness to vaccination using influenza as a model shared to Semi-Public Workspace (SPW) Project

To assess the effects of the impairments in innate immunity identified in the study titled Delineate innate immune responses in populations at risk (the elderly and the immunosuppressed) that are different from the general population on the efficiency of the response to agents of Bioterrorism, using WN virus infection and influenza vaccination as models.

Will also assess these responses directly from patients who had WN virus infection or the influenza vaccine. Will elucidate mechanisms mediating innate immune responses to viral infection using murine models.