Correlation between Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Rate of Reactivation from Latent Infection and the Number of Infected Neurons in Trigeminal Ganglia

Authors: Maggioncalda J.¹; Mehta A.¹; Su Y.H.¹; Fraser N.W.²; Block T.M.¹

Source: Virology, Volume 225, Number 1, November 1996 , pp. 72-81(10)

Publisher: Academic Press

Abstract:

The presence of wild-type herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and several latency associated transcript (LAT) region mutants within the trigeminal ganglia (TG) of latently infected mice was examined. A combination of methods including conventional in situ hybridization to detect viral LAT and an in situ DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect viral DNA was used. These data show that, for all virus strains in which a comparison was possible, the population of neurons expressing detectable levels of LAT was approximately one-third the total number of viral DNA-containing cells. In addition, in situ PCR analysis revealed that mutants such as 17DeltaSty, 17DeltaBstE, and 17DeltaS/N, which contain deletions within the LAT locus which do not affect the kinetics of viral reactivation from explanted murine TG, are present in as many neurons as wild-type virus. This was true regardless of the ability to induce accumulation of intact 2.0-kb LAT. On the other hand, mutant 17DeltaN/H, which contains a deletion removing the LAT promoter and surrounding genomic region and reactivates slowly from explanted TG, was present in only one-sixth as many neurons as wild-type virus. These data show that detection of mutants unable to synthesize or accumulate 2.0-kb LAT (such as 17DeltaN/H) is possible with in situ DNA PCR and that the slow reactivation phenotype of 17DeltaN/H correlates with a reduced number of HSV DNA-containing neurons.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Kimmel Cancer Institute, Thomas Jefferson University College of Medicine, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107-6799 2: The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19101

Publication date: 1996-11-01

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• In this Subject: Microbiology ,  Internal Medicine
• By this author: Maggioncalda J. ;  Mehta A. ;  Su Y.H. ;  Fraser N.W. ;  Block T.M.

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