Alphaherpesvirus Latency: Its Role in Disease and Survival of the Virus in Nature

Abstract

Publisher Summary Herpesviruses have been identified that infect nearly all groups of vertebrates. This chapter focuses on the latency of α-herpesviruses. Several mammalian viruses belong to this group: equine herpes virus 1( EHV-l ), pseudorabies virus (PRV), bovine herpes virus 1 (BHV-1), herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), and varicella zoster virus (VZV). Although most latency studies have been performed using HSV-1, significant contributions have been made using the animal viruses, and thus studies related to BHV-1 are included in this chapter. In general, it is believed that sensory neurons within ganglia are the primary site of latency. In latently infected sensory neurons, the only abundant viral gene product that is transcribed is LAT (latency-associated transcript; HSV-1 or HSV-2) or LRT (latencyrelated transcript; BHV-1). Consequently, it has been hypothesized that LAT or LRT regulates some aspect of latency. Although VZV is a member of the α-herpesvirus family, it appears that its program of latency is unique with respect to HSV and BHV-1. VZV is present in many sensory ganglia throughout the body and the central nervous system.