{"title":"Insights into the pathogenesis of varicella viruses.","authors":"Océane Sorel, Ilhem Messaoudi","doi":"10.1007/s40588-019-00119-2","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a highly contagious, neurotropic alpha herpes virus that causes varicella (chickenpox). VZV establishes lifelong latency in the sensory ganglia from which it can reactivate to induce herpes zoster (HZ), a painful disease that primarily affects older individuals and those who are immune-suppressed. Given that VZV infection is highly specific to humans, developing a reliable <i>in vivo</i> model that recapitulates the hallmarks of VZV infection has been challenging. Simian Varicella Virus (SVV) infection in nonhuman primates reproduces the cardinal features of VZV infections in humans and allows the study of varicella virus pathogenesis in the natural host. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge about genomic and virion structure of varicelloviruses as well as viral pathogenesis and antiviral immune responses during acute infection, latency and reactivation. We also examine the immune evasion mechanisms developed by varicelloviruses to escape the host immune responses and the current vaccines available for protecting individuals against chickenpox and herpes zoster.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Data from recent studies suggest that infected T cells are important for viral dissemination to the cutaneous sites of infection as well as site of latency and that a viral latency-associated transcript might play a role in the transition from lytic infection to latency and then reactivation.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Recent studies have provided exciting insights into mechanisms of varicelloviruses pathogenesis such as the critical role of T cells in VZV/SVV dissemination from the respiratory mucosa to the skin and the sensory ganglia; the ability of VZV/SVV to interfere with host defense; and the identification of VLT transcripts in latently infected ganglia. However, our understanding of these phenomena remains poorly understood. Therefore, it is critical that we continue to investigate host-pathogen interactions during varicelloviruses infection. These studies will lead to a deeper understanding of VZV biology as well as novel aspects of cell biology.</p>","PeriodicalId":45506,"journal":{"name":"Current Clinical Microbiology Reports","volume":"6 3","pages":"156-165"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1000,"publicationDate":"2019-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s40588-019-00119-2","citationCount":"6","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Current Clinical Microbiology Reports","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40588-019-00119-2","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2019/7/6 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"MICROBIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 6
Abstract
Purpose of review: Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a highly contagious, neurotropic alpha herpes virus that causes varicella (chickenpox). VZV establishes lifelong latency in the sensory ganglia from which it can reactivate to induce herpes zoster (HZ), a painful disease that primarily affects older individuals and those who are immune-suppressed. Given that VZV infection is highly specific to humans, developing a reliable in vivo model that recapitulates the hallmarks of VZV infection has been challenging. Simian Varicella Virus (SVV) infection in nonhuman primates reproduces the cardinal features of VZV infections in humans and allows the study of varicella virus pathogenesis in the natural host. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge about genomic and virion structure of varicelloviruses as well as viral pathogenesis and antiviral immune responses during acute infection, latency and reactivation. We also examine the immune evasion mechanisms developed by varicelloviruses to escape the host immune responses and the current vaccines available for protecting individuals against chickenpox and herpes zoster.
Recent findings: Data from recent studies suggest that infected T cells are important for viral dissemination to the cutaneous sites of infection as well as site of latency and that a viral latency-associated transcript might play a role in the transition from lytic infection to latency and then reactivation.
Summary: Recent studies have provided exciting insights into mechanisms of varicelloviruses pathogenesis such as the critical role of T cells in VZV/SVV dissemination from the respiratory mucosa to the skin and the sensory ganglia; the ability of VZV/SVV to interfere with host defense; and the identification of VLT transcripts in latently infected ganglia. However, our understanding of these phenomena remains poorly understood. Therefore, it is critical that we continue to investigate host-pathogen interactions during varicelloviruses infection. These studies will lead to a deeper understanding of VZV biology as well as novel aspects of cell biology.
期刊介绍:
Current Clinical Microbiology Reports commissions expert reviews from leading scientists at the forefront of research in microbiology. The journal covers this broad field by dividing it into four key main areas of study: virology, bacteriology, parasitology, and mycology. Within each of the four sections, experts from around the world address important aspects of clinical microbiology such as immunology, diagnostics, therapeutics, antibiotics and antibiotic resistance, and vaccines. Some of the world’s foremost authorities in the field of microbiology serve as section editors and editorial board members. Section editors select topics for which leading researchers are invited to contribute comprehensive review articles that emphasize new developments and recently published papers of major importance, which are highlighted in annotated reference lists. These timely reviews of the literature examine the latest scientific discoveries and controversies as they emerge and are indispensable to both researchers and clinicians. The editorial board, composed of more than 20 internationally diverse members, reviews the annual table of contents, ensures that topics address all aspects of emerging research, and where applicable suggests topics of critical importance to various countries/regions.