My research interests have focused on the interaction of herpes simplex virus
types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and 2) with the nervous system of the human host. Three
areas of research have been developed that collectively study the key viral and
host factors involved in the acute, latent and reactivated stages of the HSV
life cycle. A primary area of research examines immune modulation as an
enhancement for vaccine efficacy and antiviral therapies. In these studies we
are investigating immunostimulatory, CpG motif-containing oligonucleotides. A
second area of research examines neuronal and host genetic factors that
contribute to HSV pathology. Our third research area utilizes recombinant
viruses that carry alterations in key viral proteins to study the contribution
of viral factors to pathogenesis including reporter viruses, expressing
fluorescent proteins, with intact genetic compliments to better understand lytic
and latent phases of the viral infection.
Search PubMed for Dr. Pyles' publications.