Frequency and Abundance of Alphaherpesvirus DNA in Human Thoracic Sympathetic Ganglia

Alphaherpesvirus reactivation from thoracic sympathetic ganglia (TSG) and transaxonal spread to target organs cause human visceral disease. Yet alphaherpesvirus latency in TSG has not been well characterized. In this study, quantitative PCR detected varicella-zoster virus (VZV), herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), and HSV-2 DNA in 117 fresh TSG obtained postmortem from 15 subjects. VZV DNA was found in 76 (65%) ganglia from all subjects, HSV-1 DNA was found in 5 (4%) ganglia from 3 subjects, and no HSV-2 was found.     

Configuration of latent varicella-zoster virus DNA.

The configuration of latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV) DNA was analyzed by PCR. Template DNA for both internal and terminal VZV primers was present in a 1:1 ratio in ganglionic DNA, compared with a 15:1 ratio in DNA extracted from VZV virions, indicating that the VZV genomic termini are adjacent in latently infected human ganglia.     

A genome-wide comparative evolutionary analysis of herpes simplex virus type 1 and varicella zoster virus

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) are closely related viruses causing lifelong infections. They are typically associated with mucocutaneous or skin lesions, but may also cause severe neurological or ophthalmic diseases, possibly due to viral- and/or host-genetic factors. Although these viruses are well characterized, genome-wide evolutionary studies have hitherto only been presented for VZV. Here, we present a genome-wide study on HSV-1. We also compared the evolutionary characteristics of HSV-1 with those for VZV. We demonstrate that, in contrast to VZV for which only a few ancient recombination events have been suggested, all HSV-1 genomes contain mosaic patterns of segments with different evolutionary origins. Thus, recombination seems to occur extremely frequent for HSV-1. We conclude by proposing a timescale for HSV-1 evolution, and by discussing putative underlying mechanisms for why these otherwise biologically similar viruses have such striking evolutionary differences.     

Comparative efficacy and immunogenicity of replication-defective, recombinant glycoprotein, and DNA vaccines for herpes simplex virus 2 infections in mice and guinea pigs

Many candidate vaccines are effective in animal models of genital herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection. Among them, clinical trials showed moderate protection from genital disease with recombinant HSV-2 glycoprotein D (gD2) in alum-monophosphoryl lipid A adjuvant only in HSV women seronegative for both HSV-1 and HSV-2, encouraging development of additional vaccine options. Therefore, we undertook direct comparative studies of the prophylactic and therapeutic efficacies and immunogenicities of three different classes of candidate vaccines given in four regimens to two species of animals: recombinant gD2, a plasmid expressing gD2, and dl5-29, a replication-defective strain of HSV-2 with the essential genes UL5 and UL29 deleted. Both dl5-29 and gD2 were highly effective in attenuating acute and recurrent disease and reducing latent viral load, and both were superior to the plasmid vaccine alone or the plasmid vaccine followed by one dose of dl5-29. dl5-29 was also effective in treating established infections. Moreover, latent dl5-29 virus could not be detected by PCR in sacral ganglia from guinea pigs vaccinated intravaginally. Finally, dl5-29 was superior to gD2 in inducing higher neutralizing antibody titers and the more rapid accumulation of HSV-2-specific CD8+ T cells in trigeminal ganglia after challenge with wild-type virus. Given its efficacy, its defectiveness for latency, and its ability to induce rapid, virus-specific CD8(+)-T-cell responses, the dl5-29 vaccine may be a good candidate for early-phase human trials.     

A herpes simplex virus type 1 mutant containing a nontransinducing Vmw65 protein establishes latent infection in vivo in the absence of viral replication and reactivates efficiently from explanted trigeminal ganglia.

Vmw65, a herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) tegument protein, in association with cellular proteins, transactivates viral immediate early genes. In order to examine the role of Vmw65 during acute and latent infection in vivo, a mutant virus (in1814), containing a 12-base-pair insertion in the Vmw65 gene, which lacks the transactivating function of Vmw65 (C. I. Ace, T. A. McKee, J. M. Ryan, J. M. Cameron, and C. M. Preston, J. Virol. 63:2260-2269, 1989) was examined in mice. Following corneal inoculation, the parental virus (17+) and the revertant (1814R) replicated effectively in eyes and trigeminal ganglia with 30 to 60% mortality. At either equal PFU or equal particle numbers, in1814 did not replicate in trigeminal ganglia and none of the infected mice died. Although in1814 did not replicate following corneal inoculation, it established latent infection in trigeminal ganglia. HSV-1 in1814 reactivated at explant as efficiently and rapidly as did 17+ and 1814R. Even low amounts of inoculated in1814 (10(2) PFU) were sufficient to establish latent infection in some animals. Since infectious in1814 was not detected at any time in mouse trigeminal ganglia, in1814 provided a unique opportunity to determine how soon after primary infection latency begins. Latent in1814 infection was detected shortly after virus reached the sensory ganglia, between 24 to 48 h postinfection. Thus, though Vmw65 may be required for lytic infection in vivo, it is dispensable for the establishment of and reactivation from latent infection. These data support the hypotheses that the latent and lytic pathways of HSV-1 are distinct and that latency is established soon after infection without a requirement for viral replication. However, the levels of Vmw65 reaching neuronal nuclei may be a critical determinant of whether HSV-1 forms a lytic or latent infection.     

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) open reading frame 10 protein, the homolog of the essential herpes simplex virus protein VP16, is dispensable for VZV replication in vitro.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) open reading frame 10 (ORF10) protein in the homolog of the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) protein VP16. VZV ORF10 transactivates the VZV IE62 gene and is a tegument protein present in the virion. HSV-1 VP16, a potent transactivator of HSV-1 immediate-early genes and tegument protein, is essential for HSV-1 replication in vitro. To determine whether VZV ORF10 is required for viral replication in vitro, we constructed two VZV mutants which were unable to express ORF10. One mutant had a stop codon after the 61st codon of the ORF10 gene, and the other mutant was deleted for all but the last five codons of the gene. Both VZV mutants grew in cell culture to titers similar to that of the parental virus. To determine whether HSV-1 VP16 alters the growth of VZV, we constructed a VZV mutant in which VP16 was inserted in place of ORF10. Using immune electron microscopy, we found that HSV-1 VP16 was present in the tegument of the recombinant VZV virions. The VZV VP16 substitution mutant produced smaller plaques and grew to a lower titer than parental virus. Thus, VZV ORF10 is not required for growth of the virus in vitro, and substitution of HSV-1 VP16 for VZV ORF10 impairs the growth of VZV.     

Efficacy of methylenecyclopropane analogs of nucleosides against herpesvirus replication in vitro

We have reported previously that purine methylenecyclopropane analogs are potent agents against cytomegaloviruses. In an attempt to extend the activity of these compounds, the 2-amino-6-cyclopropylaminopurine analog, QYL-1064, was selected for further study by modifying the purine 6 substituent. A total of 22 analogs were tested against herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1, HSV-2), varicella zoster virus (VZV), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6) and human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8). Ten of the analogs had activity against at least one of the viruses tested. One compound had moderate activity against HSV-1 and six had activity against VZV. All but one compound was active against HCMV with a mean EC50 of 2.1 +/- 0.6 microM, compared with a mean EC50 of 3.9 +/- 0.8 microM for ganciclovir. Of special interest was the fact that eight of the ten compounds were active against both HHV-6A and HHV-6B with mean EC50 values of 6.0 +/- 5.2 mciroM and <2.4 +/- 1.5 microM, respectively. Only two compounds had activity against EBV, whereas all but one compound was active against HHV-8 with a mean EC50 of 3.1 +/- 1.7 microM. These results indicate that members of this series of methylenecyclopropane analogs are highly active against HCMV, HHV-6, and HHV-8 but are less active against HSV, VZV, and EBV.     

Prevalence of Varicella-Zoster Virus DNA in Dissociated Human Trigeminal Ganglion Neurons and Nonneuronal Cells

Previous analyses using in situ hybridization alone or together with PCR have yielded conflicting results regarding the cell type in which latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV) resides. We separated human trigeminal ganglia (TG) into neuronal and nonneuronal fractions, followed by primary and nested PCR to quantitate VZV DNA at the single cell level. Both TG from each of eight cadavers were dissociated and separated into neuronal and nonneuronal cell suspensions by differential filtration. Analysis of the neuron fraction (5,000 neurons per sample) revealed VZV DNA in 9 of 16 samples, with copy numbers ranging from 1 to 12, whereas only 2 of 16 nonneuronal cell samples were positive for VZV DNA, with 1 copy each. Further analysis of 10 samples of 100 neurons and the corresponding nonneuronal cell fractions from each TG of a single subject revealed VZV DNA in 3 of 10 samples of the left TG (range, 2 to 5 copies) and in 1 of 10 samples of the right TG (2 copies) but in none of the 20 nonneuronal cell fractions. These data indicate that latent VZV DNA is present primarily, if not exclusively, in neurons, at a frequency of two to five copies per latently infected neuron.