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The herpes simplex virus type 1 latency associated transcript locus is required for the maintenance of reactivation competent latent infections

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Abstract

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) establishes latent infections in sensory neurons from which it can periodically reactivate and cause recurrent disease and transmission to new hosts. Little is known about the virally encoded mechanisms that influence the maintenance of HSV latent infectious and modulate the frequency of virus reactivation from the latent state. Here, we report that the latency associated transcript locus of HSV-1 is required for long-term maintenance of reactivation competent latent infections.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by Award Number R01 EY 013168 from the National Eye Institute and RO1 AI 32121 of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The funding agencies had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

All authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45267-0524, USA

    Richard L. Thompson

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229-3039, USA

    Nancy M. Sawtell

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  1. Richard L. Thompson
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Correspondence to Richard L. Thompson.

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Thompson, R.L., Sawtell, N.M. The herpes simplex virus type 1 latency associated transcript locus is required for the maintenance of reactivation competent latent infections. J. Neurovirol. 17, 552–558 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13365-011-0071-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13365-011-0071-0

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