Richard B. Pyles, PhD

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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.