Precipitous clearance of herpes simplex virus antigens from the peripheral nervous systems of experimentally infected C57BL/10 mice.
Clearance of herpes simplex virus (HSV) from spinal ganglia of experimentally infected mice is known to be dependent on CD8+ T-cells but not on destruction of infected neurons, consistent with a non-cytolytic Tc2 response in the peripheral nervous system. Here, we demonstrate the striking rapidity of such a response in C57BL/10 mice. The number of neurons containing viral DNA and viral antigens increased until 136 h after inoculation of virulent HSV type 1 (strain SC16) into flank skin. Subsequent disappearance of HSV DNA and antigens from infected ganglia was virtually complete only 8 h later. A consistent and unexpected observation was detection of viral antigens in sensory nerve axons for at least 8 h after their disappearance from neuronal somas, raising the intriguing possibility that virus or viral proteins may be transported distally after infection has been terminated.
Speck
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P
Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Simmons
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A
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D013997:Time Factors
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral