Research projects

HHV-6 Mediated Mitochondrial Modulation and Its Association to ME/CFS

About

Status:

Completed

Principal investigator:

Bhupesh K. Prusty

Country:

Latvia, Germany

Study start:

Not available

Completion (planned):

Not available

Last update:

2023-12-01

Research types:

Basic research

Research areas:

Infections, Nutritional and metabolic system disorder, General

Interventions:

Not applicable

Priv. Sector Partner:

Not available

Sponsors:

Solve ME/CFS Initiative

Links

Project website

Project description

Bhupesh Prusty (PhD), a molecular virologist at the University of Wuerberg, designed his Ramsay project to explore the hypothesis that mitochondrial dysfunction in ME/CFS has a pathogenic connection. He focused on HHV-6 (a herpesvirus that has been implicated in chronic conditions) based on his previous findings of HHV-6 activation and changes to mitochondria. Dr. Prusty and his collaborators honed an experimental system to study early stages of viral reactivation. Their work also points to a mechanism that accounts for how, even with a low number of copies of the virus in the blood, HHV-6-infected cells might still impact energy production in adjacent or distant cells through factors secreted in the blood plasma of ME/CFS patients.

(Description adapted from project website: see link above)

Patient cohort

ME/CFS according to Canadian Consensus Criteria (CCC) compared with healthy controls and patients with other clinical conditions.

Patients enrolled: 79

Age group: 21 - 59 years (Adults)

Research areas (9)

Research types (2)

Research networks (0)

Working groups (4)

People (5)

Publications (2)

Organisations (4)

Research areas

Viral infections

Minute infectious agents whose genomes are composed of DNA or RNA, but not both. They are characterised by a lack of independent metabolism and the inability to replicate outside living host cells. (Descripton adapted from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/68014780)

Research projects:

9

Publications:

16

Mitochondrial dysfunction

Mitochondrial diseases are conditions caused by abnormal function of the mitochondira. They may be caused by mutations, acquired or inherited, in mitochondrial DNA or in nuclear genes that code for mitochondrial components. They may also be the result of acquired mitochondria dysfunction due to adverse effects of drugs, infections, or other environmental causes. (Description adapted from: ...

Research projects:

Invasion of the host organism by microorganisms or their toxins or by parasites that can cause pathological conditions or diseases. (Description adapted from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/68007239)

Research projects:

10

Publications:

18

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6)

Human Herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is a member of the roseolovirus genus of the Betaherpesvirales subfamily isolated from patients with AIDS and other lymphoproliferateive disorders. It infects and replicates in fresh and established lines of hematopoietic cells and cells of neural origin. It also appears to alter the activity of NK cells. HHV-6 antibodies are elevated in patients with AIDS, Sjögre...

Research projects:

Nutritional and metabolic system disorder

A collective term for nutritional disorders resulting from poor absorption or nutritional imbalance, and metabolic disorders resulting from defects in biosynthesis (anabolism) or breakdown (catabolism) of endogenous substances. (Description adapted from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/68009750)

Research projects:

5

Publications:

11

General research area that is not attributed to a specific organ dysfunction or research entity.

Research projects:

Viruses belonging to the family of Herpesviridae, a family of enveloped, linear, double-stranded DNA viruses infecting a wide variety of animals. Subfamilies, based on biological characteristics, include: alphaherpesvirinae, betaherpesvirinae, gammaherpesvirinae. (Description adapted from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/68006566 &am...

Research projects:

8

Publications:

13

Transcriptomics

The determination of the pattern of genes expressed at the level of genetic transcription, under specific circumstances or in a specific cell. (Description adapted from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/68020869)

Research projects:

3

Publications:

1

The systematic study of the complete complement of proteins (proteome) of organisms. (Description adapted from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/68040901)

Research projects:

2

Publications:

1