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HHS Invests 138K Investigating HHV-6 DNA Replication Inhibitors As Therapy For CFS

shannah

Senior Member
Messages
1,429
HHS invests $138 Thousand in investigation of HHV-6 "DNA replication inhibitors" as potential therapy for ME/CFS
December 30, 2010


Shawn D Spencer, PhD, a biopharmaceutical researcher at Florida A&M University, has been granted $138,429 for research in fiscal year 2010-11 by Health & Human Services. The work is part of a project to test the hypothesis that Human Herpes Virus-6 plays a role in ME/CFS by establishing persistent infection in .monocytes [immune white blood cells], and to test the benefit of targeted “HHV-6 DNA replication inhibitors” in infected cells.

Following are excerpts from the project description in the HHS Research Portfolio.

link is: http://projectreporter.nih.gov/project_info_description.cfm?aid=8166149&icde=0
__________________________________

HHV-6 Inhibition: Implications in Chronic Fatigue [Syndrome]

Notice of HHS Grant of $138,429 awarded for fiscal year June 2010-May 2011.

Project: grant awarded to Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University; Principal Investigator Shawn D Spencer

Project Number: 5G12RR003020-26; Sub-Project ID: 6274

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator.

Abstract:
Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) is a severely debilitating disorder for which there is presently no cure.

Treatment options are limited, and to date, no drugs have been developed specifically for CFIDS.

Our long range research goals are:

1) To understand fully the mechanisms of CFIDS disease progression, and

2) The development of improved therapeutic intervention strategies for CFIDS.

The etiology, pathogenesis, and mechanisms of immune dysfunction in CFIDS are all poorly understood; however there is growing evidence that Human Herpes Virus-6 (HHV-6) infection may play a role in CFIDS pathogenesis.

Our hypotheses are:

1) HHV-6 establishes persistent infection in monocytes through alterations in host-cell proteins involved in immune response and

2) Targeted nanoparticulate-formulation delivery systems of Ribonucleotide Reductase Inhibitors are effective against HHV-6 DNA replication.

The primary rationale is that viruses often evade host defense through proteolysis of immune response mediators, and thus raises the possibility that HHV's are responsible for degradation of STAT1 and native RNase-L in CFIDS. [RNase-L is part of the body's innate antiviral immune defense.]

Moreover, available treatments for HHV-6 active infection are limited.

We will test our hypothesis in this pilot project through the following 3 Specific Aims:

1) Obtain a Protein Signature of the primary structures and molecular weights of host cellular and viral proteins expressed in cell-line models (HL-60 and U937 leukemia cells) of productive versus latent HHV-6 infection of human monocytes of PBMCs.

2) Determine the susceptibility of HHV-6 infected and non-infected HL-60 and U937 leukemia cell models to Ribonucleotide Reductase inhibition.

3) Determine in-vitro the pharmacology and toxicity of nanocapsules of HHV-6 DNA replication inhibitors in Herpes-virus infected HL-60 and U937 leukemia cell models.

Successful completion of the aims in this pilot study will enhance the long-term developmental objectives of the PI, while obtaining sufficient Preliminary Data for investigator-initiated grant applications. Supported by NIH/NCRR/RCMI G12RR03020.”


http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?libid=15832
 

shannah

Senior Member
Messages
1,429
This amount is actually thousands not millions and should read $138,429. Could a moderator correct the title please. I copied the article from Prohealth.

Thanks J. for pointing this out.
 

eric_s

Senior Member
Messages
1,925
Location
Switzerland/Spain (Valencia)
I find it a bit hard to understand that at this moment they're looking at HHV-6 and not at XMRV/MRVs more.

Why not put some real money into XMRV now, find out wheter it is it or not in a reasonable time frame (a bit faster than in the last 12 months), and if not, look in another direction? They are looking at XMRV of course (BWG and Lipkin), but as far as i'm aware, there have not been many grants awarded.

I suspect HHV-6, EBV, etc. could play a role too, together with XMRV, but nevertheless, i would focus on XMRV at this moment.