The scientific work is structured in several work packages, each one under the major responsibility of one herpesvirus research laboratory.
TargetHerpes designs transfected siRNAs in order to

1. block cellular and viral functions with the aim of inhibiting HSV and HCMV infection, and
2. inactivate HHV-8 functions required for the maintenance of latent viral genomes and/or continuous proliferation of HHV-8 transformed cells, thereby curing transformed cells. WP3-6 will also use shRNA vectors for plasmid-driven expression of siRNAs, should the direct transfection of siRNAs fail to produce significant biological activities.
   

TargetHerpes also envision the use of protein tagging systems designed to detect specific interactions between crucial viral proteins and their cellular binding partners. These interactions will reveal novel targets for antiviral therapy using mimetic peptides that disrupt the protein:protein interaction interface. These methods will be applied to several different stages of the herpesvirus lifecycle, including virus entry, virus gene expression, and the maintenance and reactivation of latent viral genomes. Candidate target complexes required for HSV entry have already been defined in the laboratory. Components of these complexes will be purified using the technologies of the SME partners to enable structural analysis and the rational design of effective mimetic peptide inhibitors. This approach will be extended to other targets.
TargetHerpes will:

• carry out and improve the design of siRNAs directed to a number of cellular and viral functions
• optimise the transfection protocols for siRNAs
• improve existing vectors for shRNA expression
  

With respect to proteins, the laboratories will develop the structure-based rational design of biologically active mimetic peptides, and implement applications of tagged proteins.
Once achieved, these scientific objectives will provide the SMEs with novel tools that they can further develop, market, and/or distribute. Thus, both IBA and PRIMM will develop their marketing capabilities for siRNAs and shRNAs, PRIMM will optimise its ability to design and produce antagonist and mimetic peptides, IBA will validate, improve and gain novel protein tagging systems, Biodec will generate a new tool for creating and testing new siRNA predictive methods, to be applied both for research purposes and for commercial activity.