DeCure's autonomous AMR AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for Herpes simplex virus keratitis — screening already-approved drugs against its 1-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleHerpes simplex virus keratitis maps to a 1-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
approvedMedrysoneGlucocorticoid receptor agonist
Structures already discussed alongside herpes simplex virus keratitis in the retrieved literature, rendered from public PubChem SMILES. Which drugs appear here reflects the evidence found, not a ranked prediction.
Molecular view
nuclear receptor subfamily 3 group C member 1 (NR3C1) — NR3C1 is one of the genes in this disease's Open Targets module — part of the target space DeCure's repurposing candidates point at. The protein backbone is drawn as a cartoon. The structure has adenosine-5'-diphosphate bound in it, shown as sticks.
Loading structure…
helix sheet adpdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 7KW7 · 3.57 Å · ligand ADENOSINE-5'-DIPHOSPHATE (ADP). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) can infect all parts of the visual axis, causing keratitis and uveitis that are potentially sight-threatening. The outcome depends on prompt diagnosis and treatment to counter the detrimental interaction between virus and host. The virus can afflict any anatomical layer of the cornea, sometimes more than one at a time, and presents with a spectrum of clinical manifestations. Recalcitrant courses, recurrences, and variable response to therapy make management challenging, particularly in paediatric patients and recipients of corneal transplants. A 2023 case series of five patients reported successful management with a combination of medical and surgical treatment, but the series is small and uncontrolled.
The mechanism of herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) is considered an immune response to viral infection, related to factors such as infection pathway and immunoregulation. Research has focused on viral infection and latency, apoptosis, and immunity. Recurrent infection is a major research focus, and investigators have analysed newly discovered drugs against HSV recurrence, hoping to develop a chemical with stronger effect and less toxicity to reduce side effects and improve treatment results. However, no specific drug or compound with proven efficacy in humans is described in these abstracts.
A 1978 review noted that herpes simplex keratitis remains a challenging and difficult problem, and that treating herpetic stromal keratitis with corticosteroids poses a perplexing problem due to known immunopathologic mechanisms and the hazards and complications of steroid therapy. The abstracts are predominantly reviews and case series, not randomised controlled trials. What is still missing are adequately powered, blinded, controlled trials that test specific antiviral or immunomodulatory agents against placebo or standard care, with clear stratification by disease layer (epithelial, stromal, endothelial) and recurrence history, and sufficient funding to follow patients long enough to measure sight-threatening outcomes.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Archives of Ophthalmology · 1971 · 12 citations
Topically Applied Steroids in Active Herpes Simplex Keratitis
AbstractTopical administration of medrysone 1.0% produced a detrimental effect on active infection of the corneal epithelium by herpes simplex virus. Treatment with this drug resulted in a keratitis that was more severe in its clinical characteristics and ran a more prolonged course than the disease observed in control animals. A ten-day course of therapy also resulted in a prolongation of the period during which virus could be cultured from the eye. The undesirable effects produced by medrysone 1.0% were not as pronounced as those which followed administration of dexamethasone phosphate 0.1%.
Herpes Simplex Virus-Induced Ocular Diseases: Detrimental Interaction Between Virus and Host
AbstractHerpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a common cause of ocular diseases, affecting all parts of the visual axis. HSV-1 keratitis and uveitis represent two prevalent ocular diseases. The outcome of these potentially sightthreatening conditions depends on prompt diagnosis and treatment in order to counteract the detrimental intra-ocular virus-host interaction. This review recapitulates current insights on the diagnosis, pathogenesis, and treatment of HSV-1 keratitis and uveitis in patients and in the respective mouse models. Keywords: Herpes simplex virus, keratitis, uveitis, epidemiology, clinical symptoms, diagnosis, pathogenesis, treatment, Ocular Diseases, Neurotrophic keratitis, dendritic HSV lesion, Corneal endotheliitis, Stromal keratitis, Acute retinal necrosis
Indian Journal of Ophthalmology - Case Reports · 2023 · 1 citations · open access
Herpes simplex viral keratitis - A mixed bag of challenging case scenarios
AbstractHerpes simplex virus (HSV) keratitis is a potentially blinding condition of the eyes. HSV can afflict any of the anatomical layers of the cornea, sometimes more than one layer at one time, and presents with a spectrum of clinical manifestations. Recalcitrant course, recurrences, and variable response to therapy can make managing these patients a true challenge, particularly in the pediatric age group and recipients of corneal transplants. Here, we report a series of five cases of HSV keratitis from our practice that presented with diagnostic and management dilemmas and were successfully managed with a combination of medical and surgical treatment.
Australian Journal of Opthalmology · 1978 · 1 citations · open access
HERPETIC KERATITIS: PRESENT MANAGEMENT AND FUTURE PROSPECTS
AbstractSummary Herpes simplex keratitis remains a challenging and difficult problem. In this review the rationale for current and experimental antiviral therapy is discussed. The perplexing problem posed by the need to treat herpetic stromal keratitis with corticosteroid is approached through a review of known immunopathologic mechanisms, as well as the hazards and complications of steroid therapy.
DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · 2019 · 1 citations · open access
Research progress on recurrence and treatment of herpes simplex keratitis
AbstractHerpes simplex viral keratitis(HSK)is caused by herpes simplex virus a serious infective corneal disease. Herpes simplex virus(HSV)infection comes in two forms: primary and recurrent.Between them, the recurrent herpes simplex virus infection way of relevant mechanisms and intervention is the research focus in recent years. In this article, we've introduced the recurrent immune system and treatment of the recurrent herpes of herpes simplex, analysed the newly discovered drugs against herpes simplex virus recurrence, and we're hoping to develop a new form of intervention, a chemical that has a stronger effect and less toxic, so that we can reduce the potential side effects and provide better treatment results.
Research advances in mechanism of herpes simplex keratitis
AbstractHerpes simplex keratitis (HSK),which is caused by infection of herpes simplex virus,is a kind of disease with high incidence and blinding rate.The mechanism of HSK is complex and always attracts the attention of researchers.It is considered as an immune response to viral infection and is related to several factors,such as pathway of infection and immunoregulation.This review reveals the latest advance of the mechanism of HSK in the aspects of viral infection and latency,apoptosis,immunity.
Key words:
Herpes simplex keratitis; Viral infection; Apoptosis; Immunity
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.
