Biomaterial Database

Human herpes viruses latent infection in the nervous system. 1996

I Steiner

Department of Neurology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.

The neurotropic herpes viruses, HSV-1, HSV-2 and VZV, colonize and establish latent infection in human peripheral sensory ganglia. Recurrent diseases due to reactivation of these viral pathogens can take place despite an effective immune response. Molecular, cellular, physiological and immune mechanisms work in concert to enable the establishment of latency, the maintenance of the latent state for the entire life of the host, and the reactivation infection. Although all three viruses belong to the same family and establish latent infection in the same tissue, the clinical pattern of their reactivation is quite different. This review covers current knowledge of the basis of these infections, and offers a theory explaining the basis of HSV-1 latent infection and the differences of the disorders caused by HSV-1 and VZV reactivation in humans.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009420	Nervous System	The entire nerve apparatus, composed of a central part, the brain and spinal cord, and a peripheral part, the cranial and spinal nerves, autonomic ganglia, and plexuses. (Stedman, 26th ed)	Nervous Systems,System, Nervous,Systems, Nervous
D002644	Chickenpox	A highly contagious infectious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (HERPESVIRUS 3, HUMAN). It usually affects children, is spread by direct contact or respiratory route via droplet nuclei, and is characterized by the appearance on the skin and mucous membranes of successive crops of typical pruritic vesicular lesions that are easily broken and become scabbed. Chickenpox is relatively benign in children, but may be complicated by pneumonia and encephalitis in adults. (From Dorland, 27th ed)	Varicella,Chicken Pox
D006561	Herpes Simplex	A group of acute infections caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 or type 2 that is characterized by the development of one or more small fluid-filled vesicles with a raised erythematous base on the skin or mucous membrane. It occurs as a primary infection or recurs due to a reactivation of a latent infection. (Dorland, 27th ed.)	Herpes Simplex Virus Infection
D006562	Herpes Zoster	An acute infectious, usually self-limited, disease believed to represent activation of latent varicella-zoster virus (HERPESVIRUS 3, HUMAN) in those who have been rendered partially immune after a previous attack of CHICKENPOX. It involves the SENSORY GANGLIA and their areas of innervation and is characterized by severe neuralgic pain along the distribution of the affected nerve and crops of clustered vesicles over the area. (From Dorland, 27th ed)	Shingles,Zona,Zoster
D006564	Herpesviridae	A family of enveloped, linear, double-stranded DNA viruses infecting a wide variety of animals. Subfamilies, based on biological characteristics, include: ALPHAHERPESVIRINAE; BETAHERPESVIRINAE; and GAMMAHERPESVIRINAE.	Mouse Thymic Virus,Murid herpesvirus 3,Thymic Group Viruses,Herpesviruses,Mouse Thymic Viruses,Thymic Virus, Mouse,Thymic Viruses, Mouse
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014645	Herpesvirus 3, Human	The type species of VARICELLOVIRUS causing CHICKENPOX (varicella) and HERPES ZOSTER (shingles) in humans.	Chickenpox Virus,Herpes zoster Virus,Ocular Herpes zoster Virus,VZ Virus,Varicella-Zoster Virus,HHV-3,Herpesvirus 3 (alpha), Human,Herpesvirus Varicellae,Human Herpesvirus 3,Chickenpox Viruses,Herpes zoster Viruses,VZ Viruses,Varicella Zoster Virus,Varicella-Zoster Viruses,Varicellae, Herpesvirus
D017735	Virus Latency	The ability of a pathogenic virus to lie dormant within a cell (LATENT INFECTION). In eukaryotes, subsequent activation and viral replication is thought to be caused by extracellular stimulation of cellular transcription factors. Latency in bacteriophage is maintained by the expression of virally encoded repressors.	Viral Latency,Latencies, Viral,Latencies, Virus,Latency, Viral,Latency, Virus,Viral Latencies,Virus Latencies
D018259	Herpesvirus 1, Human	The type species of SIMPLEXVIRUS causing most forms of non-genital herpes simplex in humans. Primary infection occurs mainly in infants and young children and then the virus becomes latent in the dorsal root ganglion. It then is periodically reactivated throughout life causing mostly benign conditions.	HSV-1,Herpes Simplex Virus 1,HHV-1,Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1,Herpesvirus 1 (alpha), Human,Human Herpesvirus 1