title: Productive varicella-zoster virus infection of cultured intact human ganglia.
abstract: Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a species-specific herpesvirus which infects sensory ganglia. We have developed a model of infection of human intact explant dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Following exposure of DRG to VZV, viral antigens were detected in neurons and nonneuronal cells. Enveloped virions were visualized by transmission electron microscopy in neurons and nonneuronal cells and within the extracellular space. Moreover, rather than remaining highly cell associated during infection of cultured cells, such as fibroblasts, cell-free VZV was released from infected DRG. This model enables VZV infection of ganglionic cells to be studied in the context of intact DRG.
authors.affiliation: Center for Virus Research, Westmead Millenium Institute, and Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Sydney, Blackburn Building, 2006 NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Kavitha
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gowrishankar
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Slobedman
authors.forename: Anthony L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miranda-Saksena
authors.forename: Ross A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Boadle
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abendroth
mesh_terms: D002213:Capsid / Q000378:metabolism; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002474:Cell-Free System; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D005724:Ganglia / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology*; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009474:Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure