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CHRISTIAN MESSA Gillson Longenbaugh Foundation contributes $70,000 to herpes research Grant helping scientists to develop preventive treatment for disease GALVESTON, Texas — Genital herpes, an incurable disease that affects one in five Americans, may someday be treated with a topical solution that can prevent its transmission between people. With the support of a portion of a $70,000 grant from the Gillson Longenbaugh Foundation, Dr. Anthony Simmons is conducting research at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston that may yield an ointment to fight the transmission of herpes simplex, the virus that causes genital herpes. Simmons, a professor of pediatric virology and faculty member in UTMB’s departments of Pathology and of Microbiology and Immunology, is developing an ointment to block the virus’ invasion of cells. Applied vaginally, the ointment would not only prevent the sexual transmission of the disease but also protect newborns against potentially contracting it during birth. Simmons is also experimenting with reengineering T-cells to combat the disease before it has a chance to cause symptoms. A T-cell is a type of white blood cell — part of the body’s line of defense against infections. Simmons’ research group is attempting to reconstruct the T-cells of people with herpes so that the cells will target the virus to attack it. Over time, the herpes simplex virus has co-evolved with humans to develop ways to avoid destruction by antibodies and T-cells. According to the American Social Health Association, approximately one-fifth of the U.S. population has type 2 herpes simplex virus (HSV-2), the primary cause of genital herpes. In 2001, there were more than 45 million cases of genital herpes infection in the United States, making HSV-2 infection the country’s most common sexually transmitted disease. There are about 1 million new cases reported each year. In addition to causing painful genital lesions, HSV-2 can increase a person’s risk of contracting AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. More than 66 percent of U.S. citizens have the type 1 herpes simplex virus (HSV-1). This strain is usually transferred by kissing and can cause either genital or oral herpes, the infections around the lips and nose known as “fever blisters” or “cold sores.” Unlike other viral infections, the herpes simplex virus can survive for life in the person it infects and may do so without causing symptoms. People who have HSV-1 or HSV-2 may be contagious even if they show no signs of infection. Simmons said the Gillson Longenbaugh Foundation is recognized for supporting novel research, especially that which has the potential to receive full funding from the National Institutes of Health. “They like to fund ideas that are ahead of the game,” said Simmons, the director of the Immunoassay Laboratory in UTMB’s Sealy Center for Vaccine Development. “I’m grateful to the Gillson Longenbaugh Foundation for holding my research in such high regard.” Lawrence I. Levy, president of the Bellaire-based foundation, along with Dr. Neal R. Pellis, the foundation’s scientific director and a guest lecturer in UTMB’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, said Simmons’ reputation and innovative research helped convince the organization’s trustees to support his studies. “We’re looking forward to working with Dr. Simmons and seeing the results of his research,” Levy said. UTMB faculty have been involved in other promising herpes research. Dr. Lawrence R. Stanberry, an infectious disease specialist, director of UTMB’s vaccine development center and chairman of the university’s Department of Pediatrics, was the lead author of a study about a new herpes vaccine. The vaccine, which was effective only in women as yet uninfected with oral or genital herpes, reportedly reduced the chance of contracting symptomatic disease by 73 percent and diminished the risk of becoming infected at all by 40 percent. Pending further clinical trials and federal Food and Drug Administration approval, the vaccine could be available to the public as early as 2008. Established in the early 1980s, the Gillson Longenbaugh Foundation is committed to supporting biomedical research, particularly in the areas of cancer and neurological studies. The philanthropy was created by the late Alta Gillson Longenbaugh, whose prominent Katy-area family had been involved in ranching and rice farming. UTMB
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