New NIH Grant: Lysine Methylation as a Novel Regulatory Mechanism of HPV E2 Function — $209K at Unknown Institution
WHY IT MATTERS
This basic research could eventually lead to new non-invasive treatments for high-risk HPV infections, which currently have no effective alternatives to invasive procedures and surgery.
Scientists are studying how a virus called HPV (human papillomavirus) uses a process called lysine methylation to survive in human cells. HPV can cause several types of cancer, including cervical cancer. This research aims to understand how the virus works so doctors can develop better treatments to stop HPV infections before they turn into cancer.
Project: Lysine Methylation as a Novel Regulatory Mechanism of HPV E2 Function PI: DESMET, MARSHA Institution: Unknown Institution Funding: $209K Start Date: 2026-05-06 Abstract: PROJECT ABSTRACT Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are double-stranded DNA viruses that infect cutaneous and mucosal epithelia. Infections with high-risk HPVs may lead to cervical, anogenital, and oropharyngeal cancers accounting for 5% of all cancers worldwide. Currently there are no effective non-invasive treatments against high-risk HPV infections. Because of that, it is critical to study the fundamental biology of high-risk HPV and specifically its utilization of host cell factors to permit completion of its viral life cycle. The viral replicative program consists of three different stages: (1)