Reducing cell stress in the eye to block herpes infections
Alleviation of ER stress as a translational strategy to curb ocular viral infections
Researchers are using a medicine that eases stress inside eye cells to try to stop herpes viruses that can cause corneal infections and vision loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11261220 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project focuses on herpes simplex virus infections of the cornea that can lead to vision loss. Scientists found a host protein called CREB3 in the cell's endoplasmic reticulum helps the virus replicate, and they are using a chemical chaperone (sodium 4-phenylbutyrate, Na-PBA) to lower ER stress and reduce CREB3. They have supporting data from mouse experiments showing antiviral effects and topical safety in animals. The team is working on translating these findings toward a topical treatment while addressing formulation and sodium-related safety issues.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with or at risk for herpes simplex infections of the cornea (herpetic keratitis).
Not a fit: Patients with eye disease caused by non-herpes pathogens or with irreversible structural eye damage are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a new topical antiviral approach for herpes-related eye infections that may work when current drugs fail.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical work in cells and mice has shown promise for reducing ER stress to limit viral replication, but this mechanism is novel and lacks human trial results so far.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shukla, Deepak — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Shukla, Deepak
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.