The use of a novel IFN-γ release assay to characterise cytomegalovirus (CMV) and immunological outcomes in transplant and HIV-infected individuals

A lowered immune system in the setting of stem cell transplantation or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection places individuals at high risk of infectious and non-infectious complications. This research evaluated the clinical use of easy, rapid, high throughput immune biomarkers to predict clinical outcomes such as cytomegalovirus (CMV)-related morbidity, end organ disease and/or overall mortality. The studies in this thesis showed that these markers were able to predict infectious complications and/or death. Use of these markers will have an important impact in the health care of future individuals undergoing immunosuppression.