Host RNA Expression Profiles and Protein Biomarkers in Neonatal Herpes Simplex Virus Infection

Background: Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) infection in newborns is uncommon but can be devastating and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The diagnosis of neonatal HSV infection is challenging because maternal genital herpes often is asymptomatic and the clinical presentation in newborns can be nonspecific, especially in the early disease stages. This results in late diagnosis and potentially terrible consequences for the newborn. The reason why some newborns develop severe disease due to HSV infection is unknown. It has been suggested that immunologic differences in early infancy are the key to further advances. Host RNA expression profiling, transcriptomics, of the host response to infections has shown great potential as clinical tool for diagnostics and for unveiling molecular disease mechanisms. As previously shown, reliable host RNA expression data can be obtained from neonatal dried blood spot (DBS) samples by RNA-sequencing. Proteomic analysis has the potential to simultaneously identify hundreds of protein biomarkers and immune cell populations allowing for detailed mapping of disease immunological pathways. Method: A nationwide retrospective case-control study of all newborns with HSV infection in Denmark from 2010 through 2019. DBS samples will be obtained from the Danish Neonatal Screening Biobank, Statens Serum Institut. RNA sequencing and proteomic analyses will be performed at the Danish Center for Neonatal Screening, Department of Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut. Cases will be randomly assigned to a "Discovery cohort" and compared to a control group of newborns matched on gestational age, sex and birthweight will be included. Time frame: Sample identification/recruiting: January 1st to January 31st 2022. Sample analysis (RNA sequencing and proteomic analysis): February 1st to April 30th 2022. Perspectives: New molecular-based diagnostic tools complementary to conventional methods may improve early diagnosis of neonatal HSV infections and lead to optimised management. In addition, understanding of the pathogenesis at a molecular level of severe disease manifestations of the disease, could form the basis for development of novel interventions for better prevention and treatment.