New Patent Reveals Potential Link Between Herpesvirus and Neurodegenerative Diseases

The human gut microbiota plays a crucial role in overall health, and alterations to this delicate balance can have significant effects on our wellbeing. Research has long suggested that human herpesviruses (HHVs), which are ubiquitous in most populations by the eighth decade of life, may be linked to various neurodegenerative diseases. Now, a recent patent has shed new light on the potential relationship between herpesvirus infection and age-related neurodegeneration. Richelle Gayle Cutler, a researcher at the University of Michigan, has filed a patent for a treatment method that targets the root cause of these diseases: herpesvirus infection of cells related to the gastrointestinal system.

According to the patent, treatments such as this have the potential to prevent, delay, or even cure age-related neurodegenerations derived from an unsuspected cause: intestinal herpesvirus infection. This innovative approach involves delivering exosomes or recombinant bacteria engineered to release therapeutic factors in exosomes that target and silence human herpesvirus gene expression. For instance, the patent claims that using specific microRNAs (miRNAs), such as hsa-miR-185 and hsa-miR-199a-3p, can effectively reduce human herpesvirus gene expression.

Key Takeaways:

• The human herpesviruses (HHVs) are ubiquitous in most populations by the eighth decade of life, infecting immune cells and potentially affecting the diversity of symbiotic gut microbiota.
• Alterations in gut microbiota and gastrointestinal tract inflammation can have deleterious health effects, including intestinal inflammation, microbiota dysbiosis, and barrier dysfunction.
• Human herpesvirus infection of cells related to the gastrointestinal system can cause neurodegeneration, and the patent reveals a potential treatment method for this condition.
• The treatment involves delivering exosomes or recombinant bacteria engineered to release therapeutic factors in exosomes that target and silence human herpesvirus gene expression.
• Specific miRNAs, such as hsa-miR-185 and hsa-miR-199a-3p, have been identified as effective in reducing human herpesvirus gene expression.
• The patent claims also mention the use of recombinant gram-negative bacteria engineered to contain a genome-integrated expression construct for expression of antiviral proteins, miRNAs, or both.

Statistics:

• The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in immune regulation, and alterations to this balance can increase susceptibility to opportunistic infections.
• Human herpesvirus infection of cells related to the gastrointestinal system can cause neurodegeneration and increased inflammation in the gut.
• Using specific miRNAs, such as hsa-miR-185 and hsa-miR-199a-3p, can effectively reduce human herpesvirus gene expression by 90%.
• The patent claims that the treatment method has the potential to prevent, delay, or even cure age-related neurodegenerations derived from an unsuspected cause: intestinal herpesvirus infection.

Sources:

• Cutler, Richelle Gayle. Treating herpesvirus-mediated intestinal dysfunction for prevention of age-related neurodegeneration. U.S. Patent Number 12428643, filed December 10, 2019, and published online on September 30, 2025.
• Patent URL (for desktop use only): https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/external.html?q=(12428643)&db=USPAT&type=ids