The contractor will evaluate the clinical, virologic and toxicologic effects of putative antiviral agents directed at the management of herpes simplex viruses (HSV) types 1 and 2, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV). They will utilize guinea pig model systems because these models exhibit pathophysiological features analogous to the corresponding infection in humans. Human strains of HSV and VZV will be utilized; however, they will employ guinea pig CMV since it is not possible to infect guinea pigs with human CMV. The contractor will first test the candidate compounds for in vitro activity in fetal guinea pig cells against the test virus strain intended for animal inoculation. They will explore for potential drug toxicity in the animal model system. They will then evaluate the experimental therapeutic agents as potential drugs for the treatment of varicella, primary and recurrent genital herpes, neonatal herpes, and cytomegalovirus infections exploring for drug efficacy, toxicity and changes in the pathophysiology of infection. In addition to these studies, they will further refine their recently described guinea pig model of neonatal HSV infection to determine the usefulness of this experimental system to predict neurologic outcome of infection and treatment.

Project Start
1991-04-05
Project End
1996-04-04
Budget Start
1993-02-23
Budget End
1994-04-04
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1993
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
New England Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
153914080
City
Watertown
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02472
Wang, Julie; Visness, Cynthia M; Sampson, Hugh A (2005) Food allergen sensitization in inner-city children with asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol 115:1076-80
Sullivan, Sean D; Weiss, Kevin B; Lynn, Henry et al. (2002) The cost-effectiveness of an inner-city asthma intervention for children. J Allergy Clin Immunol 110:576-81