How the immune system controls West Nile virus in the brain
Innate Immune Mechanisms Controlling Flavivirus Neurovirulence
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · NIH-11181639
This work looks at how the body's immune defenses react when West Nile virus reaches the brain to help people who get severe brain infections.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (MINNEAPOLIS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11181639 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will use newly developed mouse models and engineered forms of West Nile virus to find which cells start the immune response in the body and which brain cells are targeted. They will map gene activity and immune signals at single-cell and in-tissue (spatial) resolution, and examine epigenetic changes that shape immune behavior. The team aims to learn how the virus crosses into the central nervous system and how early immune responses lead to longer-term brain inflammation and damage. That detailed molecular map is intended to reveal points where future treatments could prevent or reduce neurologic complications.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had West Nile virus infection or who develop neurological symptoms after exposure to the virus are the most relevant population for future clinical translation of these findings.
Not a fit: Patients with unrelated neurological conditions or those needing immediate clinical treatment should not expect direct benefits from this lab-based research right now.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal targets to prevent or reduce brain infection and long-term neurological damage from West Nile virus.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has identified some immune factors in West Nile virus infection, but this project applies newer mouse models and high-resolution single-cell and spatial methods to provide more detailed and novel insights.
Where this research is happening
MINNEAPOLIS, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA — MINNEAPOLIS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: GALE, MICHAEL — UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- Study coordinator: GALE, MICHAEL
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.
Conditions: CNS Diseases, CNS disorder, CNS infection