title: Herpes simplex virus US3 protein kinase regulates host responses and determines neurovirulence.
abstract: The US3 of HSV encodes a serine/threonine protein kinase that is highly conserved among members of the alphaherpesviruses. It is an accessory gene that is not required for viral replication in cultured cells but appears essential for viral survival in humans. Although accumulating in vitro evidence suggested that the viral protein kinase is multifunctional, little information is available about its functions in vivo. Several reports point out that, upon invasion into the peripheral nervous system, HSV blocks virus-induced neuronal apoptosis, while presumably subverting host immune responses, largely through actions of the US3 protein kinase. In addition, the US3 protein kinase confers the viral neurovirulence. In the present article, functions of the HSV US3 protein kinase are briefly reviewed, with special attention given to its role in regulating host responses and neurovirulence.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Shubun University, Aichi 491-0938, Japan. mori@shubun-ac.jp
authors.forename: Isamu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mori
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D057131:Immune Evasion; D009474:Neurons / Q000821:virology*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C095207:US3 protein, Human herpesvirus 1; C084395:US3 protein, Human herpesvirus 2