How emerging bunyaviruses infect brain cells
Mechanisms of Neuronal Infection by Prototype Emerging Bunyaviruses
Researchers are looking at how three emerging viruses that can cause brain inflammation enter and damage nerve cells, to help people at risk of viral encephalitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11140309 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will compare three medically important bunyaviruses—La Crosse, Rift Valley fever, and Oropouche—to identify which brain cell types they target and how infection alters the local brain environment. The work uses laboratory neuronal cells and relevant animal models to track viral entry, replication, and the resulting inflammation. Scientists will define viral and host factors that drive neurologic disease and examine the consequences of target cell infection. Findings are intended to reveal points of vulnerability that could guide future diagnostics, antivirals, or vaccines.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people who live in or have traveled to areas where La Crosse, Rift Valley fever, or Oropouche viruses circulate, or patients recovering from suspected bunyavirus encephalitis who could donate clinical samples.
Not a fit: People with non-infectious neurological conditions or who are not at risk of exposure to these specific viruses are unlikely to see direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets for treatments, vaccines, or diagnostics to prevent and reduce viral brain infections.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have described how individual bunyaviruses infect brain cells, but direct head-to-head comparisons of these three viruses to define common and unique neuropathogenic mechanisms are novel.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hartman, Amy L — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Hartman, Amy L
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 below.