How a small chemical tag (lysine methylation) controls an HPV protein called E2
Official title: Lysine Methylation as a Novel Regulatory Mechanism of HPV E2 Function
Funded at Marian University · NIH-11353161 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Looks at whether a tiny chemical tag on the HPV E2 protein changes how the virus copies itself and controls genes, which matters for people with high-risk HPV infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Marian University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project start | May 6, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $208,880 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI199466-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11353161 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with persistent high-risk HPV infections or precancerous anogenital/cervical lesions are the group most likely to benefit from advances that come from this work.
✕Less likely to help
People with low-risk HPV types or those who already have advanced invasive cancer are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic lab research in the short term.
What this research studies
For people worried about high-risk HPV, this work studies a chemical change called lysine methylation on a viral protein named E2 that helps HPV replicate and turn on its genes. Scientists will identify exactly which parts of E2 get this tag, change those sites in lab-grown cells, and measure how those changes affect viral replication and gene activity. The team will also search for human enzymes that add or remove the tag to understand who in our cells controls E2 function. The results aim to point to new molecular targets for future non-invasive treatments to stop or limit high-risk HPV.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal new targets for drugs that block HPV replication or transcription and reduce the risk of anogenital cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Related work shows other chemical tags on viral or human proteins can change HPV activity, but lysine methylation of HPV E2 is a recently reported and still largely novel area.
Where this research is happening
-
Marian University
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Desmet, Marsha — Marian University
- Study coordinator: Desmet, Marsha
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.