This website is dedicated to the dissemination of information about the European research project TargetHerpes ("Molecular intervention strategies targeting latent and lytic herpesvirus infections").

The TargetHerpes consortium creates innovative opportunities for the application of the novel technologies of three SMEs in the development of a new generation of antiherpesvirus treatments.

The website contains general knowledge about Herpesviruses research and related issues and more detailed information about the specific scope and objectives of the TargetHerpes project.

Project Summary

Herpesviruses cause some cancers and many human diseases varying from afflictions of moderate severity, that none-the-less can cause extended morbidity, to serious infections that are life-threatening. This is particularly true in immunocompromised patients including transplant recipients and HIV-infected individuals, but even in healthy people herpesviruses can cause serious problems, for example during childbirth.

Congenital HCMV infection is a leading cause of birth defects, and HSV-2 infection necessitates birth by Caesarian section. At present the options for antiviral therapy are extremely limited, and, because of toxicity, the current antiherpes drugs cannot be administered to pregnant women. There is a continuing need to develop alternative treatments because drug-resistant viruses are evolving.

The technologies that are being developed by three SMEs in TargetHerpes will be applied in connection with the fundamental advances being made in Europe’s leading herpesvirus research laboratories, to press forward the search for novel, effective treatments that can be used against a broad spectrum of herpesvirus diseases. The project will target different herpesviruses at different stages of their infections in order to inhibit virus

• entry
• evasion of host defences
• persistence in infected individuals
• reactivation from latency
  

These objectives will be achieved by improving and using the reagents and methodologies of the SMEs, thus providing the basis for novel product development, validation and marketing in the future, and a foundation for the SMEs in the commercial development of successful treatments and methodologies. In addition to these major benefits for the SMEs, TargetHerpes expects to make significant contributions to the LifeSciHealth goals of FP6 in combating major human diseases.

Funding

The TargetHerpes project receives research funding from the Community’s Sixth Framework Programme of the European Commission.

Acronym:

TargetHerpes

Contract No.:

FP6-037517

Instrument:

Specific Targeted Research Project

Starting Date:

01/01/2007

Coordinator:

University of Bologna

Scientific EC-Officer:

Tomasz Dylag