title: Herpes simplex virus type 1 persistence and latency in cultured rabbit corneal epithelial cells, keratocytes, and endothelial cells.
abstract: Cell cultures of rabbit corneal epithelium, keratocytes, and endothelium were used to determine the lytic cycle of herpes simplex virus type 1. Viral growth was fastest in epithelial cells. A novel HSV-1 in-vitro latency system was established in the three distinct cell types. Cell cultures were inoculated at low multiplicities of infection with HSV-1. Temperature manipulation alone was used to induce and reactivate latent HSV-1 infections. The presence of cellular stress proteins was demonstrated at supraoptimal temperatures. All cell types were capable of maintaining latent viral infections under these conditions. Viral persistence was present in 20% of epithelial cell cultures at supraoptimal temperatures, but not in keratocyte cultures or endothelial cell cultures.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology*; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D004727:Endothelium / Q000382:microbiology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000382:microbiology; D006358:Hot Temperature; D011817:Rabbits; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000254:growth & development*; D013997:Time Factors; D014775:Virus Activation