Publication Shows Promising Results in Treatment for Common Virus

August 8, 2022

Utah State University researchers recently published a paper showcasing important advancements in the treatment of cytomegalovirus, or CMV.

In order to develop a new treatment for cytomegalovirus, a latent virus that is the leading cause of congenital birth defects, a team of USU researchers used a cell culture model. This method allows researchers to refine a treatment before moving on to animal models. The promising results have been published and are now being replicated in a mouse model study with collaborators at the University of Utah.

In order to develop a new treatment for cytomegalovirus, a latent virus that is the leading cause of congenital birth defects, a team of USU researchers used a cell culture model. This method allows researchers to refine a treatment before moving on to animal models. The promising results have been published and are now being replicated in a mouse model study with collaborators at the University of Utah.

CMV is a latent virus without a vaccine and is the leading cause of congenital birth defects. Antiviral treatment is effective but is also associated with toxicity, especially in infants and immunocompromised patients.

In order to successfully treat the virus and minimize negative side effects, biological engineering professors Elizabeth Vargis and David Britt oversaw an experiment using a synthetic polymer to deliver the flavonoid quercetin to cells infected with the virus.

Both of these substances are approved by the Food and Drug Administration and the combination could be a more effective way to treat patients while reducing the side effects they experience. Biological engineering students Andrew Kjar and Ian Wadsworth led the research that demonstrated the successfulness of this method in a cell culture model.

These promising results are now being replicated in a mouse model study with collaborators at the University of Utah.

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Contact: Elizabeth Vargis, vargis@usu.edu
David Britt, david.britt@usu.edu

Writer: Matilyn Mortensen, matilyn.mortensen@usu.edu