DeCure's autonomous AMR AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for Epstein-Barr virus infection — screening already-approved drugs against its 7-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleEpstein-Barr virus infection maps to a 7-gene Open Targets module — the target space DeCure's AI scientist screens approved drugs against.
DeCure.ai methodSignature reversal (LINCS) plus network proximity (STRING) rank already-approved drugs likely to perturb this module — the same engine that produces DeCure.ai's repurposing hypotheses.
Repurposing thesisScreening approved medicines against this disease module, then publishing the evidence for the strongest candidate. Known pharmacology and human exposure data make the first question sharper — they do not establish safety or efficacy in a new indication.
Research record
01
ResearchComing soon
Candidate research + dossier — target rationale, drug-repurposing thesis and evidence pack.proof: Published dossier + on-chain hash
02
ValidationComing soon
In-vitro biological validation at a contract research org (CRO).proof: CRO contract + in-vitro report
03
Peer review & paperComing soon
Peer-reviewed paper published open-access (preprint + journal).proof: DOI + open-access link + on-chain hash
Current lead
approvedRuxolitinibApproved drug
Structures already discussed alongside epstein-barr virus infection in the retrieved literature, rendered from public PubChem SMILES. Which drugs appear here reflects the evidence found, not a ranked prediction.
Molecular view
Human JAK2 JH1 domain — Ruxolitinib has a real, experimentally solved structure in complex with this target (PDB 6WTN, 1.83 Å). This is the drug's own deposited structure, not a prediction, and confirms it is a structurally characterised molecule rather than an untested guess.
Loading structure…
helix sheet rxtdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 6WTN · 1.83 Å · ligand Ruxolitinib (RXT). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
A 2023 review describes Epstein-Barr virus as the first identified human oncogenic virus, which establishes long-term latent infection by evading immune surveillance through multiple mechanisms. Under certain pathological conditions the virus transitions from latent to lytic phase and causes dysregulation of the host immune system, leading to EBV-related diseases. The review discusses molecular mechanisms of host immune responses and EBV-mediated immune evasion during chronic active infection, but reports no treatment data.
A 2008 case report describes a 7-year-old boy with bilateral decreased visual acuity and frosted branch angiitis, treated with intravenous steroids and acyclovir. Serological testing was positive for anti-EBV IgM antibodies and later for anti-EBV IgG antibodies. Venous sheathing decreased during follow-up, and funduscopy showed no abnormalities after three months. This is a single case with no control.
A 1997 review states that until recently there was no definite treatment for severe EBV infection, and that many therapeutic approaches have been attempted, with some appearing beneficial for certain EBV-associated diseases. It provides no specific efficacy data.
A 2021 report on chronic active EBV infection (CAEBV) notes that allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the only currently available strategy, and that optimal medical treatment has not been established. The authors discovered that STAT3 is constitutively activated in EBV-infected tumour cells in CAEBV, inducing immortalisation and inflammatory cytokine production. Based on this, an investigator-initiated clinical trial of the JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib for CAEBV began in January 2019. No results from that trial are reported in the abstract. What remains missing are completed trial results for ruxolitinib, any randomised controlled trial for any drug in CAEBV, and patient stratification strategies that might identify who benefits from existing or experimental approaches.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Viral Immunology · 2023 · 22 citations
Immunity and Immune Evasion Mechanisms of Epstein–Barr Virus
AbstractEpstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the first human oncogenic virus to be identified, which evades the body's immune surveillance through multiple mechanisms that allow long-term latent infection. Under certain pathological conditions, EBVs undergo a transition from the latent phase to the lytic phase and cause targeted dysregulation of the host immune system, leading to the development of EBV-related diseases. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the mechanism of developing an immune response to EBV and the evasion of immune recognition by EBV is important for the understanding of the pathogenesis of EBV, which is of great significance for finding strategies to prevent EBV infection, and developing a therapy to treat EBV-associated diseases. In this review, we will discuss the molecular mechanisms of host immunological responses to EBV infection and the mechanisms of EBV-mediated immune evasion during chronic active infection.
Ocular Immunology and Inflammation · 2008 · 21 citations
Frosted Branch Angiitis Associated with Epstein-Barr Virus Systemic Infection
AbstractPURPOSE: To describe the first case that the authors are aware of frosted branch angiitis associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 7-year-old boy presented with bilateral decreased visual acuity. Funduscopy showed a typical image of frosted branch angiitis. He was started on treatment with intravenous steroids and acyclovir. Serological testing was positive for anti-Epstein-Barr virus IgM antibodies. Anti-Epstein-Barr virus IgG antibodies tested positive later. During follow-up, the venous sheathing decreased. Three months later funduscopy showed no abnormalities. CONCLUSION: Epstein-Barr virus infection should be considered in patients presenting with the typical clinical manifestations of this syndrome.
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology · 1997 · 21 citations
Therapeutic Approaches for Severe Epstein-Barr Virus Infection
AbstractEpstein-Barr virus, (EBV) is one of the eight known human herpesviruses and is associated with diseases in a spectrum from benign to lethal. Until recently, there has been no definite treatment for severe EBV infection. However, many therapeutic approaches have been attempted, and some of them seem to be beneficial for a certain EBV-associated disease. This review introduces them and provides a more rational basis for the treatment of severe EBV infection.
[The road to treating chronic active Epstein-Barr viral infection].
AbstractChronic active Epstein-Barr virus (CAEBV) infection is a progressive disease characterized by persistent inflammatory symptoms accompanied by clonally proliferating EBV-positive T or NK cells. The optimal medical treatment for CAEBV to eradicate EBV-infected T or NK cells has not yet been established, with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as the only strategy currently available. Patients with CAEBV have been reported mainly from limited area of Japan and East Asia. However, CAEBV is drawing a global attention, and the number of reports is increasing worldwide after its definition was added to the EBV-positive T- or NK-cell neoplasms in the 2017 World Health Organization classification. We had previously discovered that STAT3 was constitutively activated in EBV-infected tumor cells in CAEBV inducing the immortalization and production of inflammatory cytokines. Based on these findings, an investigator-initiated clinical research of a JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib for CAEBV infection was initiated in January 2019. Japanese researchers have been expected to elucidate pathological mechanisms and to establish an effective treatment.
Disease module: DeepOracle (Open Targets). Structures: RDKit from PubChem SMILES. Literature: retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works (targeted per-candidate search), resolved on OpenAlex.
DeCure is a research and publication project, not medical advice and not a treatment. "DeCure for X" describes a research goal, not a claim that a cure exists. Backing a cure is a contribution to fund the research — it is not an investment, and confers no yield, royalty, equity or IP ownership. Papers are published open-access by the DeCure.ai DAO.
