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Animal models of herpes simplex virus immunity and pathogenesis
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Animal models of herpes simplex virus immunity and pathogenesis

Christina M Kollias, Richard B Huneke, Brian Wigdahl and Stephen R Jennings
Journal of neurovirology, v 21(1), pp 8-23
Feb 2015
PMID: 25388226
url
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13365-014-0302-2View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Rabbits Guinea Pigs Encephalitis, Viral - virology Species Specificity Virus Latency Humans Central Nervous System - pathology Ganglia, Sensory - virology Immunity, Innate Ganglia, Sensory - pathology Herpes Simplex - virology Herpesvirus 1, Human - physiology Animals Herpes Genitalis - pathology Herpes Genitalis - virology Herpes Simplex - pathology Encephalitis, Viral - pathology Herpesvirus 2, Human - physiology Mice Herpesvirus 2, Human - pathogenicity Virus Activation Central Nervous System - virology Herpesvirus 1, Human - pathogenicity Disease Models, Animal
Herpes simplex viruses are ubiquitous human pathogens represented by two distinct serotypes: herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 (HSV-1); and HSV type 2 (HSV-2). In the general population, adult seropositivity rates approach 90% for HSV-1 and 20-25% for HSV-2. These viruses cause significant morbidity, primarily as mucosal membrane lesions in the form of facial cold sores and genital ulcers, with much less common but more severe manifestations causing death from encephalitis. HSV infections in humans are difficult to study in many cases because many primary infections are asymptomatic. Moreover, the neurotropic properties of HSV make it much more difficult to study the immune mechanisms controlling reactivation of latent infection within the corresponding sensory ganglia and crossover into the central nervous system of infected humans. This is because samples from the nervous system can only be routinely obtained at the time of autopsy. Thus, animal models have been developed whose use has led to a better understanding of multiple aspects of HSV biology, molecular biology, pathogenesis, disease, and immunity. The course of HSV infection in a spectrum of animal models depends on important experimental parameters including animal species, age, and genotype; route of infection; and viral serotype, strain, and dose. This review summarizes the animal models most commonly used to study HSV pathogenesis and its establishment, maintenance, and reactivation from latency. It focuses particularly on the immune response to HSV during acute primary infection and the initial invasion of the ganglion with comparisons to the events governing maintenance of viral latency.

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Web of Science research areas
Neurosciences
Virology
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