title: Limited transcription of the herpes simplex virus genome when latent in human sensory ganglia.
abstract: Human paravertebral ganglia were examined for the presence of specific sequences of viral RNA by in situ cytological hybridization, using as probes individual fragments of herpes simplex virus type 2 DNA. Ganglia were obtained at autopsy from 40 patients, and 14 were positive for herpes simplex virus RNA. Transcripts from the left-hand 30% of the viral genome were detected in all of the herpes simplex virus-positive cases. RNA homologous to other sequences from the L component were present less frequently, and no RNA from the S component was detected. These results argue that specific transcription of the herpes simplex virus genome occurs in latently infected human ganglion cells.
mesh_terms: D005724:Ganglia / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral