# Phenotypic analyses of HSV-1 miRNAs: H1, H6, & H8

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · 2020 · $21,860

## Abstract

Project Summary
The majority of the human population is latently infected by herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1), yet there are
no effective therapies for clearing latent virus. During latency, the virus curbs lytic gene expression and only
express a select few noncoding RNAs, including the latency associated transcript (LAT) and viral miRNAs. The
biological functions of most HSV-1 miRNAs, in the context of viral infection, are largely unknown. Putative
targets for HSV-1 miRNAs H1, H6, and H8 include viral and host transcripts. However, evidence for these
mechanisms rely primarily on transient expression assays. Rigorous phenotypic analyses of recombinant
viruses lacking individual miRNAs in cells relevant to HSV-1 biology and in vivo, in the context of viral infection,
will elucidate the biological significance of these viral miRNA interactions in HSV-1 pathogenesis.
Hypothesis: HSV-1 miRNAs H1, H6, & H8 will be found to facilitate HSV-1 lytic, latent, and/or recrudescent
infections by fine-tuning the translation of viral and host transcripts. Since miRNAs repress translation, a virus
lacking a miRNA that targets 1) a lytic gene, will increase virulence or 2) the host immune response, will
decrease virulence. In addition, I may find that these miRNAs have multiple host or viral targets, that work
synergistically or antagonistically to regulate the dynamic state of viral latency.
Aim 1: Phenotypic & mechanistic analyses of miR-H1, H6, and H8 during acute infection in cell culture.
Aim 2: Determine the effects of miR-H1, H6, and H8 on pathogenesis during acute infection in the mouse
footpad infection model.
Aim 3: Characterize the roles of miR-H1, H6, and H8 in latency and reactivation in murine dorsal root ganglia.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10001963
- **Project number:** 5F31AI140713-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** Enrico R. Barrozo
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $21,860
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-16 → 2020-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10001963

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10001963, Phenotypic analyses of HSV-1 miRNAs: H1, H6, & H8 (5F31AI140713-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10001963. Licensed CC0.

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