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- Herpes Simplex Keratitis
Herpes simplex keratitis is a major concern in ophthalmology due to its recurrent nature and the possibility of vision loss. Protheragen is committed to advancing the field by developing innovative diagnostics and therapeutics that address the complexities of HSK.
Herpes Simplex Keratitis (HSK) is a notable disease of the eye caused predominantly by Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), especially type 1. In developed countries, it is a principal contributor towards infectious corneal blindness, which impacts hundreds of thousands of people every year. HSK presents itself in several forms which include but are not limited to epithelial, keratitis, and stromal keratitis, as well as endothelial keratitis which have their own unique features and pathophysiological processes. The recurrent nature of HSK is caused by the viral reactivation from latency in the trigeminal ganglia, making it very difficult to manage and prevent vision loss.
Fig.1 Timeline of course and pathogenesis of HSV keratitis. (Lobo A. M., et al., 2019)Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
The methods for the diagnosis of HSK have improved with the introduction of PCR technology because of the ease and accuracy in the detection of the virus DNA. This technique enhances the diagnosis by isolating the viral nucleic acid from the clinical specimen—for HSK, the specimen can be tear or corneal scrapings.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)
Samples for a PCR test are more expensive and time-consuming to prepare than those for an ELISA test. AELISA has the added benefit of detecting secretory immonoglobulin A (IgA) in the tears of patients which can indicate an ongoing infection. One of the primary advantages of ELISA is its ability to identify the presence of secretory immonoglobulin A (IgA) in the patient's tears, which may reflect an active infection.
Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA)
The antibodies are bound covalently to a fluorochrome label to enable detection of HSV specific antigens in the specimens. This method case's uncertain diagnosis with great sensitivity and specificity because viral antigens are often present in materials from which viral culture fails. The immediate results that IFA is capable of providing makes it a valuable tool to quickly diagnosis HSV from corneal scrapings.
| Drug Name | Target | Description | Research Stage |
| Trifluridine | Viral DNA polymerase | It has high corneal penetration efficacy and, with a 95% healing rate for epithelial keratitis. | Marketed |
| Ganciclovir | Viral DNA polymerase | It is effective for both epithelial and stromal keratitis and can be used topically or intrastromally. | Marketed |
| Acyclovir | Viral DNA polymerase | Acyclovir is a synthetic guanosine analogue that requires activation by viral thymidine kinase. It inhibits viral DNA polymerase and acts as a DNA chain terminator. | Marketed |
| Valacyclovir | Viral DNA polymerase | Valacyclovir provides higher serum concentrations of acyclovir with more convenient dosing. | Marketed |
| Famciclovir | Viral DNA polymerase | Famciclovir is a prodrug that is converted to penciclovir, which inhibits viral DNA synthesis and replication. | Marketed |
Disclaimer: Protheragen focuses on providing preclinical research service. This table is for information exchange purposes only. This table is not a treatment plan recommendation. For guidance on treatment options, please visit a regular hospital.
At Protheragen, we specialize in the development of advanced diagnostics and therapeutics for complex infectious diseases, including herpes simplex keratitis. Our comprehensive services encompass the entire spectrum of HSK, from molecular diagnostics to innovative therapeutic solutions.
Protheragen's preclinical research services offer a robust platform for evaluating new HSK diagnostics and therapeutics. Our state-of-the-art facilities and expert scientific team conduct comprehensive studies to assess the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of novel agents. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
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