# INTERFERON, IMMUNITY AND LATENT VIRUSES

> **NIH NIH R01** · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · 1987 · $356,167

## Abstract

Our group has had a continuing interest in developing approaches to
understanding and control of latent viruses through both chemotherapeutics
and augmentation of natural host defenses.  Viruses of special interest are
cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus.  These herpes viruses lack
their own thymidine kinase activity, and are not at present subject to
selective antiviral therapy.  We are currently studying CMV infections in
immunosuppressed patient populations who are readily available for study
and in whom this virus is a major source of morbidity and mortality (heart
transplant recipients, cancer patients and homosexuals, etc.).  Our short
term efforts are directed towards three goals:  1) to improve rapidity of
diagnosis and the monitoring of viral infection through the use of a filter
DNA hybridization assay for virus in body fluids and a radioimmunossay for
IgG and IgM antibodies; 2) to determine which cellular and or/humoral
immunodeficiencies underly CMV disease severity in the immunosuppressed;
and 3) to evaluate antiviral therapy and prophylaxis with various
interferons, hyperimmune globulin, and those chemicals with in vitro
activity against CMV (adenine arabinoside etc.).  These studies will be
conducted in a variety of populations including patients receiving
immunosuppressive therapy and previously healthy patients with CMV
infection.  Long term goals include identification and characterization of
the viral glycoproteins essential for immunity, both for immunoprophylaxis
of individuals at high risk for CMV disease and for understanding the
generation of protective immune responses in CMV infection.  In a second
series of experiments we want to continue our studies of the antiviral and
non-antiviral actions of interferon as they can be assessed in vitro in
cloned tumor cells and in vivo, in humans with disease.  In vitro we are
studying 1) cell surface; 2) antiproliferative; 3) antiviral and 4)
intracellular enzymatic changes as they relate to the cell cycle and other
growth factors.  In vivo, we shall continue to study immune changes
produced by interferon.  Both these approaches have fundamental as well as
applied implications.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3124244
- **Project number:** 5R01AI005629-25
- **Recipient organization:** STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** HJD6G4D6TJY5
- **Principal Investigator:** THOMAS C MERIGAN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $356,167
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1978-06-01 → 1988-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3124244

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3124244, INTERFERON, IMMUNITY AND LATENT VIRUSES (5R01AI005629-25). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3124244. Licensed CC0.

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