How cells respond in silent versus active JC virus infections
Official title: Cellular Programming in Persistent Versus Lytic Viral Infections
Funded at University of Maine Orono · NIH-11335607 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how JC virus can live quietly in the body for years but sometimes destroys brain cells in people with weak immune systems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maine Orono NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Orono, United States) |
| Project start | April 5, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $289,160 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM144265-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11335607 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is most relevant to people at risk for PML, such as those with advanced HIV/AIDS or those receiving certain immunomodulatory therapies.
✕Less likely to help
People without JC virus infection or whose neurological symptoms are due to other causes are unlikely to see direct benefits from this project in the near term.
What this research studies
From a patient's view, researchers use human cell models to compare what happens during quiet (persistent) JC virus infection versus when the virus becomes active and kills cells. They focus on kidney cells where the virus usually hides and on brain glial cells (like astrocytes) that are harmed in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). The team is developing and using newer primary human cell cultures because older studies relied on a single transformed cell line. Their laboratory experiments aim to find the cellular factors and pathways that allow the virus to switch from silent to destructive behavior.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal how JC virus causes PML and point to targets for treatments or prevention strategies for people at risk.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies mostly used a single transformed cell line, so applying newer primary human cell models is a relatively new approach with promising but early evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maine Orono
Orono, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maginnis, Melissa — University of Maine Orono
- Study coordinator: Maginnis, Melissa
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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.