Research
My area of interest is lifelong, persistent viral infections; how these pathogens have evolved to remain in the host for life and how persistent infections affect the host’s health. This has included work on HIV, a PhD into human cytomegalovirus (HCMV, a member of the herpesvirus family) and most recently studying Long COVID, which may be caused by persistent SARS-CoV-2 infections.
The immunology of these diseases is fascinating as a balance is established between the immune system, which never fully clears the viral infection, and the virus, which continues to replicate despite immune pressure. When the immune system is suppressed, or fails, a number of “mild” viruses become life-threatening.
Herpesviruses such as HCMV have evolved over millions of years to persist in the host for life. I want to understand how HCMV has adapted to changes in host metabolism and oxygen gradients throughout the body. Understanding this will help us to develop better therapies for immune-deficient patients, such as those receiving transplants.
Publications
Krishna BA, Lim EY, Metaxaki M, Jackson SE, Mactavous L, NIHR BioResource, Lyons PA, Doffinger R, Bradley JR, Smith KGC, Sinclair J, Matheson NJ, Lehner PJ, Sithole N, Wills MR. Spontaneous, persistent, T cell–dependent IFN-γ release in patients who progress to Long Covid. Science Advances 10 (8), eadi9379.
Krishna BA, Lim EY, Mactavous L, NIHR Team, Lyons PA, Doffinger R, Bradley J, Smith KGC, Sinclair J, Matheson NJ, Lehner PJ, Wills MR, Sithole N. Retrospective Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Patients with Long COVID by Measuring Specific T Cell Mediated IL-2 Release. EBioMedicine 81, 104129.
Krishna BA, Humby MS, Miller WE, and O’Connor CM. Human cytomegalovirus G-protein coupled receptor US28 promotes latency by attenuating c-fos. 2019. PNAS 116 (5), 1755-1764.
Krishna BA, Wills MR, Sinclair JH. Advances in the treatment of cytomegalovirus. 2019 British Medical Bulletin 00:1–13.
Krishna BA, Poole EL, Jackson SE, Smit MJ, Wills MR, Sinclair JH. Latency-associated expression of human cytomegalovirus US28 attenuates cell signaling pathways to maintain latent infection. 2017. mBio 8:e01754-17.
Krishna BA, Spiess K, Poole EL, Lau B, Voigt S, Kledal T, Rosenkilde MM, Sinclair JH. Targeting the latent cytomegalovirus reservoir with an antiviral fusion toxin protein. Nature Communications. 2017 Feb 8, 14321 EP.
