Research Briefs

Newborns exposed to any amount of herpes simplex virus (HSV)—even if they are asymptomatic at the time of infection—could experience cognitive decline later in life, according to a study of infected infant mice conducted at Dartmouth and published in the journal PLOS Pathogens in February.

The research team, led by Abigail Dutton, an MD/PhD candidate at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and by Evelyn Turnbaugh, a PhD candidate at the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies at Dartmouth, introduced HSV to day-old mice at a very low dose, then six months later, when the mice were mature, ran them through cognitive and memory tests derived from tests used to track Alzheimer’s disease progression in humans. They found that the infected mice weren’t able to learn the tasks as well as uninfected mice.

“If this is true in humans, this is really scary,” says David Leib, PhD, chair and professor of microbiology and immunology at Geisel, who served as a corresponding author on the study. But there’s “good news,” he adds: The team also tested whether vaccinating mouse moms against HSV would help prevent neurological issues in their offspring—and it did. These findings could help shape future medical approaches to disorders such as Alzheimer’s.

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Physicians can now detect life-threatening necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs)— so-called “flesh-eating” bacteria—within hours, thanks to a first-of-its-kind imaging tool developed at Dartmouth Health. Until now, diagnosing NSTIs has relied on slow, often inconclusive clinical exams or exploratory surgery. Quick, accurate detection is critical: Untreated, the infection can spread rapidly, leading to amputation or death.

The innovation, led by Eric R. Henderson, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon at Dartmouth Health’s Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, uses fluorescent dye injected into the bloodstream. The dye flows through healthy tissue but is blocked by infected, necrotic areas, making them appear as “signal voids” on an MRI. In a study of 14 patients, the new tool reliably flagged infected tissue that standard visual exams often miss.

Supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the tool adds a powerful new capability to emergency care.

“Some limbs could have been saved if diagnosed earlier,” says Dr. Henderson, underscoring how this first-in-kind test brings lifesaving clarity to a terrifying condition.

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A new discovery at Dartmouth Cancer Center could dramatically speed up how doctors diagnose acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Using an in-house genomic platform, researchers can now deliver a full genetic profile in less than 24 hours— significantly shortening a process that often takes weeks. These profiles are key to tailoring treatment, since genetic mutations help determine which therapies are most likely to work.

Built to analyze the entire genome and transcriptome, the platform handles massive amounts of data quickly and affordably, something rarely done in clinical settings. With internal testing complete and clinical rollout underway, the project is already attracting national attention for patients facing one of the most aggressive blood cancers.

Supported by Prouty pilot funding, the work is part of Dartmouth’s push to make precision medicine more accessible. “We’re not talking about research as something abstract or 10 years away,” says Parth Shah, MD, director of genome informatics. “We’re doing it now, bench to bedside, in real time.”

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