Neuroinflammation and Virus Imaging for Smart Therapeutic Approaches

Objective

NEUROVISTA (Neuroinflammation and Virus Imaging for Smart Therapeutic Approaches) aims to elucidate the mechanisms of HSV-1-induced neuroinflammation and evaluate nanoparticle-based therapeutic strategies using advanced whole-brain imaging. HSV-1 is a neurotropic virus linked to herpes simplex encephalitis and potentially to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Current treatments are limited by poor blood-brain barrier penetration and lack of tools to visualize viral spread and inflammation in vivo. This project integrates virology, nanomedicine, neuroscience, and imaging across three objectives: (O1) mapping HSV-1 distribution and neuroinflammation using light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) and optical projection tomography (OPT); (O2) developing antiviral-loaded bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (BSA-NP) incorporating carrageenans; and (O3) testing nanoparticle efficacy in cellular and animal models. NEUROVISTA combines human-relevant neural models (SH-SY5Y), in vivo mouse models, and high-resolution imaging to generate quantitative datasets on viral tropism, neuroinflammatory markers, and therapeutic impact. The fellowship will train the researcher in BSL-3 virology, advanced microscopy, and data analysis, while promoting two-way knowledge exchange with the host lab. Results will be disseminated through open-access publications, international conferences, and public engagement activities. NEUROVISTA contributes to European priorities in translational neuroscience, infection biology, and therapeutic innovation, offering a novel interdisciplinary platform to study virus-induced neurodegeneration and develop targeted interventions.