Analysis of viral genotype in herpesvirus ocular infections

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K18834
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56060:Ophthalmology-related
• Research Institution: Gunma University
• Principal Investigator: Hosogai Mayumi 群馬大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (20760177)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: ヘルペスウイルス / 単純ヘルペスウイルス / 水痘帯状疱疹ウイルス / サイトメガロウイルス / 遺伝子型

Outline of Final Research Achievements

There are nine types of herpesviruses, each of which is associated with various ocular infections and has diverse clinical features such as patient background. In this study, the genotypes of each virus were investigated using DNA extracted from ocular specimens of herpes simplex virus and varicella-zoster virus ocular infections (corneal epithelial scrapings, aqueous humor, vitreous fluid). The whole genome of virus was amplified by long PCR with primers specific for each virus, and the viral genotype was analyzed. Since the amount of ocular specimens is very small and the human genome occupies most of them, it has been difficult to amplify and sequence the viral genome. During this study period, no association between viral genotype and each ocular disease could be found.

Free Research Field

眼科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究期間内では、ヘルペスウイルス遺伝子型と各眼疾患との関連性を見出すことができなかった。引き続き、各ヘルペスウイルスのシーケンスデータを蓄積し、細胞への感染に必要な遺伝子を中心に遺伝子型の解析を行い、臨床病型との関連について検討していく。ヘルぺスウイルス遺伝子型と疾患の臨床病型や患者背景に関連があるのかが明らかになれば、将来的にヘルペスウイルス眼感染症の病態解明につながることが期待できる。