# Inflammation and Hearing Loss Following Congenital CMV Infection

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2021 · $617,991

## Abstract

Abstract:
Hearing loss associated with congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection, a relatively
frequent perinatal infection, accounts for nearly 25% of all causes of hearing loss in infants and
children in the US. The mechanisms of disease caused by infection of the inner ear by this
large herpesvirus are unknown, primarily because of hurdles inherent in the investigation of the
inner ear in humans. We have developed an informative murine model of hearing loss in which
newborn mice are infected peripherally and not intracranially with the closely related murine
CMV. In this model, about 30-50% of infected mice develop sensorineural hearing loss and a
significant number of mice with hearing loss exhibit progression in hearing loss, a clinically
important feature of hearing loss in infants with HCMV associated hearing loss. Our findings
strongly argue that virus-induced inflammation and not direct viral cytopathology is responsible
for hearing loss and progressive hearing loss in this model. Our studies will explore this
hypothesis by defining mechanisms of damage to the developing auditory system and hearing
loss in animals associated with CMV-induced inflammation of the inner ear. Results from these
studies will guide investigation into mechanisms of hearing loss in infants and children with
HCMV associated hearing loss and identify therapeutic approaches that can be translated into
treatment and prevention of hearing loss in CMV infected infants.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10238050
- **Project number:** 5R01DC015980-05
- **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:** $617,991
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10238050

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10238050, Inflammation and Hearing Loss Following Congenital CMV Infection (5R01DC015980-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10238050. Licensed CC0.

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