Friday, December 19, 2025 12/19/2025

Bacteria-Virus interactions in genital herpes infections

Award Number: R21AI180508
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/01/2023
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 10/31/2025

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Bacteria-Virus interactions in genital herpes infections - Virus-Bacterial interactions in genital herpes infections Mucosal viruses encounter resident bacteria before they encounter and activate the immune response and these interactions can affect viral infection and replication. These virus-bacterial interactions heavily influence viral infections in the intestinal tract but are understudied in the vaginal mucosa. Studies have shown that vaginal lactobacilli can interact with herpes simplex virus however the bacterial components involved in this interaction remain unknown. Our preliminary data show that vaginal lactobacilli interact with herpes simplex virus and inhibit infectivity to a much greater extent than gut lactobacilli. Additionally, this interaction is independent of lactic acid as dead bacteria are equivalently inhibitory. Further, we were able to mimic this interaction using peptidoglycan from non-vaginal gram-positive bacteria. In this proposal, we aim to explore the role of purified peptidoglycan from vaginal lactobacilli strains and compare their efficacy against gut lactobacilli (Aim 1). We will explore the role of peptidoglycan-sensing innate immune receptors in this viral suppression (Aim 2). We will define the relevance of these observations to human health by quantifying vaginal peptidoglycan in vaginal samples from people with lactobacilli-dominant microbiomes and bacterial vaginosis patients who have lost their vaginal lactobacilli and have been clinically shown to have increased shedding of herpes simplex virus. These experiments aim to propose a mechanistic basis for clinical observations linking abundance of vaginal lactobacilli to reduced viral infection and replication.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2026	2025	PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE	1033 MASSACHUSETTS AVE STE 3	CAMBRIDGE	MA	02138	MIDDLESEX	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	10/10/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $232,073 )
2025	2025	HARVARD COLLEGE PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF	677 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	11/6/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$232,073
														Subtotal = $232,073

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $199,375 )
2024	2024	HARVARD COLLEGE PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF	677 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	1	9/11/2024	NEW	$19,937
2024	2024	HARVARD COLLEGE PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF	677 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	11/30/2023	NEW	$179,438
														Subtotal = $199,375

Grand Total All Awards = $431,448

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Bacteria-Virus interactions in genital herpes infections

Award Number: R21AI180508

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/01/2023

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 10/31/2025

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer