Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2026
11:28
Dissecting Host-virus Interaction in Lytic Replication of a Model Herpesvirus
Published on: October 7, 2011
Varicella-zoster virus: molecular virology and virus-host interactions
1G-312, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. aarvin@stanford.edu
Current Opinion in Microbiology
|August 10, 2001
Summary
New methods reveal how varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infects human cells. Researchers defined VZV gene roles in replication and impacts on cellular gene expression, advancing understanding of VZV molecular mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes significant human disease.
- Understanding VZV tropism and replication mechanisms is crucial for developing effective antiviral strategies.
- Previous studies have limited insights into VZV's interaction with differentiated human cells in vivo.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the molecular mechanisms of VZV infection in differentiated human cells.
- To elucidate the role of specific VZV gene products in viral replication.
- To determine the effects of VZV infection on host cellular gene expression.
Main Methods:
- Cosmid-based mutagenesis was employed to generate VZV mutants.
- Methods were developed to examine VZV tropism for differentiated human cells in vivo.
- Gene expression analysis was performed to assess cellular responses to VZV infection.
Main Results:
- Cosmid-based mutagenesis provided insights into VZV gene function.
- Established methods allowed for the examination of VZV tropism in specific human cell types.
- The study demonstrated specific effects of VZV infection on the expression of cellular genes.
Conclusions:
- New information regarding the molecular mechanisms of VZV infection has been obtained.
- The contribution of specific VZV gene products to viral replication has been further defined.
- VZV infection demonstrably alters the expression of host cellular genes, impacting viral pathogenesis.
Related Concept Videos
00:57Viral Recombination
Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
01:26Size and Structure of Viral Genomes
Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity in size, structure, and composition, influencing their replication strategies and interactions with host cells. These genomes consist of either DNA or RNA and may be linear or circular. Additionally, they can be single-stranded or double-stranded, with each configuration affecting how the virus propagates within a host. RNA viruses, for instance, generally have smaller genomes than DNA viruses, a factor that contributes to their high mutation rates and...
01:26Human Virome
The human body harbors a vast and diverse viral community known as the human virome. The virome includes bacteriophages that infect bacteria, and eukaryotic viruses that infect human cells. Transient dietary and environmental viruses also contribute to this dynamic ecosystem. Estimates suggest the human body may contain on the order of 10¹³ viral particles, though abundance varies widely by body site and detection method.Comprehensive characterization of the virome has become possible only with...
01:24Smallpox
Smallpox is a severe contagious disease caused by the Variola major virus, a double-stranded DNA member of the Poxviridae family.Variola major transmission occurs primarily via inhalation of virus-laden droplets or direct contact with infectious scabs. The incubation period averages approximately seven days, although it may range from 7 to 17 days depending on the inoculum and host factors.Clinically, the prodromal phase is marked by an abrupt onset of high fever, malaise, headache, and myalgia.
01:20Chickenpox
Chickenpox is an acute, highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Herpesviridae family. Its transmission occurs primarily through the inhalation of respiratory droplets or direct contact with vesicular fluid from skin lesions. The incubation period typically ranges from 10 to 21 days, during which the virus replicates and disseminates through sequential phases within the host. Although generally self-limiting in children,...
01:25Inhibitors Of Virion Release
Viral replication and dissemination rely on efficient mechanisms for host cell entry, genome replication, assembly, and release. Influenza viruses, such as types A and B, are negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses with a segmented genome, that depend on two critical surface glycoproteins to carry out these processes: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). HA initiates infection by binding to sialic acid residues on the surface of host epithelial cells, facilitating receptor-mediated...