Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport received a $660,723 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), with an award date of April 16, 2026, and a completion date of March 31, 2031. This investigator-initiated research project will deliver scientific investigation and knowledge generation focused on understanding the role of Z-form nucleic acid binding protein 1 (ZBP1) in controlling Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1) pathogenesis.

The research deliverables include three primary scientific objectives: (1) identifying Z-RNA ligands that activate ZBP1 and determining their formation mechanisms during HSV-1 infections; (2) elucidating how receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) regulates ZBP1-driven RIPK3 activation; and (3) determining the role of ZBP1-activated cell death signaling, particularly necroptosis, in anti-HSV-1 host defense and pathogenesis using in vivo models. These studies will generate pioneering mechanistic insights into programmed cell death pathways initiated by ZBP1 during viral infection, contributing to fundamental understanding of viral pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets for managing HSV-1 infections affecting the 67% of the global population with HSV-1 prevalence.