How type I interferon helps protect the eye from herpes infections
Role of type 1 IFN in eye infection
This work looks at whether a natural antiviral signal called type I interferon helps prevent and control herpes simplex infections that damage the eye.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285279 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use laboratory models of ocular herpes infection (mouse models) and engineered herpes viruses to see how the virus avoids or blocks type I interferon responses. They will compare virus strains that carry or lack a viral element called the latency-associated transcript (LAT) and measure interferon and immune cell responses in the affected nerve ganglia and eye tissues. The team will test whether restoring or blocking specific viral or host factors changes cell survival, viral replication, and the establishment of latency. Findings from these experiments aim to reveal how herpes persists in nerve cells and how interferon pathways influence eye disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with a history of ocular herpes (herpes simplex virus affecting the eye) or recurrent corneal herpes would be the most directly interested in results or future trials stemming from this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose eye problems are caused by non-herpetic conditions or genetic/structural eye diseases unrelated to viral infection are unlikely to benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to boost antiviral interferon responses or block viral evasion to prevent or reduce vision-threatening herpes eye disease.
How similar studies have performed: Type I interferons are well-known antiviral agents and prior lab and some clinical work support their protective role, but applying this specifically to HSV-1 eye infection and the LAT-mediated evasion mechanism is novel.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ghiasi, Homayon — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Ghiasi, Homayon
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.