# Congenital CMV and CNS Infection Mechanisms of Protective Immunity

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2021 · $580,500

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) represents the most common viral infection
acquired by the developing fetus. Although most infants infected in-utero do not suffer
long term symptoms, approximately 10% can have long term sequelae. Central nervous
system (CNS) damage is the singular cause of these long term sequelae. Prevention of
CNS infection and disease is the target of current antiviral treatment and has been
proposed as a goal of prophylactic vaccines. The pathogenesis of CNS disease in
congenitally infected human infants remains undefined and to date studies in animal
models of CNS infection by HCMV have provided little information secondary to
significant limitations inherent in these models. We have recently developed a murine
model of infection of the developing CNS with the related murine CMV that recapitulates
many key characteristics of the human disease, including hearing loss that is common in
infants with congenital CMV infections. Using this model we propose to define
mechanisms of protective antibodies that limit CNS infection and disease. In addition, we
will explore the use of engineered viruses that are attenuated in their capacity to cause
CNS disease and establish persistent infection to induce protective antibody responses.
We anticipate that these studies will identify strategies for development of targeted
biologics such as antibodies and attenuated viruses that can provide immunologically
mediated protection from CNS infection and damage that can follow congenital HCMV
infection. Because of the relatedness between MCMV and HCMV, these strategies could
be rapidly transitioned into development of similar biologics for human use.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10145575
- **Project number:** 5R01AI089956-09
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** William Jarvis Britt
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $580,500
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2011-05-13 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10145575

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10145575, Congenital CMV and CNS Infection Mechanisms of Protective Immunity (5R01AI089956-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10145575. Licensed CC0.

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