# Molecular biology of trichomonasviruses

> **NIH NIH R01** · HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL · 2020 · $418,388

## Abstract

Several dsRNA viruses of families Partitiviridae and Totiviridae persistently infect parasitic protozoa, including
important human pathogens from genera Cryptosporidium (enteric disease), Giardia (enteric disease),
Leishmania (cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral forms of disease), and Trichomonas (urogenital
disease). Recent studies of Leishmania and Trichomonas have provided evidence that their respective
totiviruses, Leishmania RNA virus and Trichomonas vaginalis virus (TVV), contribute to the protozoan-
associated diseases by inducing proinflammatory responses by human cells, which influence the degree and
nature of inflammation in surrounding tissues. Such results have led to a general hypothesis that the widely
prevalent dsRNA viruses of parasitic protozoa may commonly affect protozoan interactions with human cells in
ways that have important consequences for exacerbating the respective human diseases or for otherwise
enhancing the survival or transmission of these protozoa during their natural life cycles. A broad objective in
this emerging field is to better understand the effects of protozoal dsRNA viruses on both protozoan and
human cells. The current proposal is focused on TVVs (trichomonasviruses) and their host T. vaginalis, which
causes the most common, nonviral sexually transmitted disease worldwide and is also associated with
increased acquisition and transmission of HIV, as well as preterm delivery and low birth weight. T. vaginalis is
now recognized as one of the more neglected pathogens of major relevance to human health, especially
women's and infants' health, in the US and around the world, especially among African-Americans and in low-
income economies. The studies proposed here will enhance understanding of the molecular biology of TVVs
and will develop tools, reagents, and targets for further studies of these viruses as pathogenicity determinants
for trichomoniasis and its associated problems. The specific aims of this proposal are: Aim 1, to advance
structural studies of TVV virions; Aim 2, to characterize dsRNA satellites that depend on one or more of the
TVV species for replication and maintenance; and Aim 3, to dissect signals for RNA packaging, synthesis, and
translation in the TVV genome.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9876990
- **Project number:** 5R01AI132445-03
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
- **Principal Investigator:** MAX L. NIBERT
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $418,388
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-03-01 → 2023-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9876990

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9876990, Molecular biology of trichomonasviruses (5R01AI132445-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9876990. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*