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Professor Michael Weekes is an expert in the field of innate immune evasion by intracellular pathogens, with a specific focus on human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a ubiquitous herpesvirus that infects a significant portion of the human population. His research aims to understand how HCMV and other intracellular pathogens evade innate immunity, analyzing the interplay between host and viral proteins. He has developed advanced techniques like ‘Quantitative Temporal Viromics’ (QTV), which allow for systematic quantitative analysis of the temporal changes in host and viral proteins during productive infections. This innovative approach has led to a wealth of valuable data, elucidating the mechanisms by which HCMV regulates over 8,000 host proteins, thereby influencing immune defenses and host metabolism. Weekes's research also involves collaboration with other prominent researchers to extend insights gained from HCMV to other viruses, including vaccinia virus and Epstein-Barr virus. His ongoing research focuses on identifying key proteins targeted by viruses and understanding their mechanisms of action, utilizing high-throughput proteomic screens to uncover new aspects of innate immunity.
University of Cambridge • Cambridge
Leading research into the mechanisms of immune evasion by intracellular pathogens, focusing primarily on human cytomegalovirus.
Standard postgraduate requirements for Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) and related humanities departments.