# ERYTHEMA MULTIFORME--A CLINICAL PATHOGENETIC STUDY

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 1993 · $133,475

## Abstract

The long term goal of this study is to understand the pathogenesis of the
type of erythema multiforme designated EM minor. Since the discovery that
the large majority of cases of EM minor are associated with herpes simplex
virus [HSV], a novel hypothesis that the skin lesions of EM minor develop
as a result of a HSV-specific immune response directed against virus
within those sites in the skin has been developed. It was found that HSV
nucleic acids may be present in healed skin lesions of EM minor, leading
to the possibility of a latent virus state. In this study molecular
virology techniques such as amplification of HSV specific nucleic acids by
the polymerase chain reaction [PCR] will be used to examine important
clinical questions regarding the pathogenesis of EM minor. The study will
focus on the state of the virus within EM skin sites and we will attempt
to detect latency associated transcripts [LATS] of herpes simplex virus.
A model of herpes simplex virus latency in skin cells will be established.
Strategies such as DNA fingerprinting by restriction enzyme analysis of
herpes viral isolates and viral typing by PCR of blood and EM skin will be
employed. Long-term viral co-culture strategies will be employed to obtain
replicating virus from EM skin and from blood samples. These studies are
designed to see if EM skin is a site of extraneuronal HSV latency and as
a model for study of host-viral interactions.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3126754
- **Project number:** 2R01AI016637-12A2
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **SAM.gov UEI:** MW8JHK6ZYEX8
- **Principal Investigator:** WILLIAM L WESTON
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $133,475
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1979-09-01 → 1996-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3126754

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3126754, ERYTHEMA MULTIFORME--A CLINICAL PATHOGENETIC STUDY (2R01AI016637-12A2). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3126754. Licensed CC0.

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