Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 3, 2026
11:56
Ex Vivo Infection of Murine Epidermis with Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1
Published on: August 24, 2015
11.7K
Cellular Cholesterol Facilitates the Postentry Replication Cycle of Herpes Simplex Virus 1
George A Wudiri1, Anthony V Nicola2
1Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology and Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
Journal of Virology
|April 28, 2017
Summary
Cholesterol is vital for herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) replication beyond entry, impacting viral synthesis and spread. Reducing cholesterol impairs HSV-1 production and cell-to-cell transmission.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Cholesterol is essential for cell membrane integrity and herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) entry.
- Previous studies highlighted cellular cholesterol's role in HSV-1 entry.
- The precise stages of the HSV-1 replicative cycle dependent on cholesterol remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of cellular cholesterol in HSV-1 replication post-entry.
- To determine if cholesterol impacts viral capsid transport, synthesis, or release.
- To compare the infectivity of cholesterol-depleted virions versus cholesterol-containing virions.
Main Methods:
- HSV-1 infected Vero cells were treated with methyl beta-cyclodextrin to reduce cholesterol levels.
- HSV-1 propagation was studied in DHCR24-/- fibroblasts, which synthesize desmosterol instead of cholesterol.
- Viral capsid transport, plaque formation, viral protein synthesis, and virion release were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Cholesterol reduction impaired HSV-1 replication at stages after capsid transport to the nucleus, affecting synthesis and release.
- Virions produced in cholesterol-depleted cells (HSVdes) showed similar infectivity per genome but were released at lower quantities.
- Cholesterol reduction significantly inhibited cell-to-cell spread of HSV-1 infection.
Conclusions:
- Cellular cholesterol plays critical roles in HSV-1 replication beyond viral entry, including viral synthesis and release.
- The hydrocarbon tail of cholesterol appears important for efficient viral synthesis.
- Cholesterol is essential for efficient cell-to-cell spread of HSV-1, indicating multiple functions in the viral life cycle.
More Related Videos
08:26Purification of Viral DNA for the Identification of Associated Viral and Cellular Proteins
Published on: August 31, 2017
14.3K
06:40Temporal Analysis of the Nuclear-to-cytoplasmic Translocation of a Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Protein by Immunofluorescent Confocal Microscopy
Published on: November 4, 2018
6.7K
Related Concept Videos
01:10Retrovirus Life Cycles
50.1K
Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the...
50.1K
01:20Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle
2.1K
Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. Among them, T-even bacteriophages, such as T4, exhibit a well-characterized lytic replication cycle in Escherichia coli (E. coli). This process ensures the rapid proliferation of the virus while ultimately leading to the destruction of the bacterial host.Attachment and DNA InjectionThe infection process begins with the recognition and binding of the T4 phage to the E. coli cell surface. Tail fibers of the phage...
2.1K
01:16Viral Replication: Lysogenic Cycle
2.0K
The lysogenic cycle is a crucial viral replication strategy that allows bacteriophages to persist within host cells without immediately destroying them. This process is primarily observed in temperate phages, such as bacteriophage lambda (λ), which infects Escherichia coli. The cycle allows the viral genome to persist across bacterial generations while keeping host cells viable.Integration of the Viral GenomeUpon infection, bacteriophage lambda attaches to the bacterial surface and injects...
2.0K
02:33Retroviruses
15.1K
Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
15.1K
01:29Viruses with RNA Genomes
1.1K
RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
1.1K
00:57Viral Recombination
25.4K
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.
25.4K