How Herpes Attacks the Brain:
Lessons from MiniBrains in a Dish
Students will explore publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from human brain organoids infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). By performing quality control, cell clustering, differential expression analysis, and pathway mapping, you will uncover how viral infection triggers inflammatory cascades and neuronal damage. The findings could shed light on mechanisms that contribute to neurodegenerative diseases and suggest new therapeutic strategies.

