title: Detection of latent herpes simplex virus DNA and RNA in human geniculate ganglia by the polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: By using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) we detected latent herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in human geniculate and trigeminal ganglia obtained from autopsy cases. A pair of primers which were specific for a part of the HSV-1 thymidine kinase domain were used for detection of HSV DNA. We also examined the latency-associated transcript (LAT), known as latency-specific RNA, by means of reverse transcription-PCR with a pair of LAT-specific primers. HSV-1 DNA was detected in 16 of 17 (94%) trigeminal ganglia and in 15 to 17 (88%) geniculate ganglia of adults. We also demonstrated HSV-1 RNA derived from the LAT in both types of ganglia. These findings suggest that HSV-1 latently infects the majority of geniculate and trigeminal ganglia of adults, and that PCR and reverse transcription-PCR are useful tools for analysis of HSV latency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takasu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Furuta
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inuyama
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagashima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005830:Geniculate Ganglion / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral