Herpes Simplex Virus-1 and Varicella-Zoster Virus Latency in Ganglia

• Published in: Journal of neurovirology Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 194 - 204
• Main Authors: Mitchell, Bradley M, Bloom, David C, Cohrs, Randall J, Gilden, Donald H, Kennedy, Peter GE
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Informa UK Ltd 01.04.2003; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Ganglia - virology; Herpes Simplex - virology; Herpes Zoster - virology; Herpesvirus 1, Human - genetics; Herpesvirus 1, Human - growth & development; Herpesvirus 3, Human - genetics; Herpesvirus 3, Human - growth & development; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the nervous system; Viral diseases with cutaneous or mucosal lesions and viral diseases of the eye; Virus Latency - physiology; Human; Varicella zoster virus; Animal model; Reactivation; Prevalence; Herpesviridae; Alphaherpesvirinae; HSV; Ganglion; Latency; Virus; Eye; Prevention; VZV; Herpesvirus hominis 1; Skin
• ISSN: 1355-0284; 1538-2443
• DOI: 10.1080/13550280390194000

Two human alpha-herpesviruses, herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 and varicella zoster virus (VZV), account for the most frequent and serious neurologic disease caused by any of the eight human herpesviruses. Both HSV-1 and VZV become latent in ganglia. In this review, the authors describe features of latency for these viruses, such as distribution, prevalence, abundance, and configuration of viral DNA in latently infected human ganglia, as well as transcription, translation, and cell type infected. Studies of viral latency in animal models are also discussed. For each virus, remaining questions and future studies to understand the mechanism of latency are discussed with respect to prevention of serious cutaneous, ocular, and neurologic disease produced by virus reactivation.