title: Localization of VZV in saliva of zoster patients.
abstract: Varicella zoster virus (VZV) in saliva from six herpes zoster patients and one chickenpox patient was found to be exclusively associated with epithelial cells by confocal microscopy. VZV localization with antibody specific to the VZV glycoprotein E was detected primarily on the membrane but was also inside the cell. Epithelial cells with VZV were still present in saliva in one out of two tested zoster patients after 10 months of recovery. Saliva from healthy controls (non-shingles patients, n = 5) did not show any sign of VZV by polymerase chain reaction or by confocal microscopy. No VZV was found in the liquid fraction of saliva. Further work is required to understand the movement of VZV in the saliva cells of infected patients.
authors.affiliation: JES Tech, NASA-Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Satish K
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4198-3261
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: Wyle Science, Technology and Engineering Group, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Mayra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nelman-Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Stephen K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tyring
authors.affiliation: University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: Wyle Science, Technology and Engineering Group, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beitman
authors.affiliation: NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Brian E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Crucian
authors.affiliation: Microgen, LLC, La Marque, Texas.
authors.forename: Ashlie N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Renner
authors.affiliation: NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Duane L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Pierson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000821:virology*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012463:Saliva / Q000821:virology*
keywords: herpesvirus; infection; reactivation; varicella-zoster virus; virus classification