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Invasion of the Nervous System
Orkide O Koyuncu1, Lynn W Enquist1, Esteban A Engel2
1Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
Current Issues in Molecular Biology
|July 30, 2020
Summary
Alphaherpesviruses efficiently infect the nervous system (NS), spreading between neurons. These viruses establish lifelong infections in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and can cause central nervous system (CNS) pathology.
Area of Science:
- Neurovirology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The nervous system (NS) comprises the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS).
- The NS is protected by barriers that prevent pathogen entry, but some viruses can breach these.
- Viral infections of the NS are often severe and challenging to treat.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review how alphaherpesviruses access and spread within the NS.
- To emphasize viral-host interactions governing neuronal transport and circuit spread.
- To discuss the application of alphaherpesviruses in neuroscience research.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on alphaherpesvirus neuroinvasion.
- Analysis of viral mechanisms for neuronal entry and transport.
- Examination of viral-host protein interactions in NS spread.
- Discussion of alphaherpesviruses as research tools.
Main Results:
- Alphaherpesviruses efficiently invade neurons, exploiting cellular mechanisms for NS entry.
- These viruses spread bidirectionally within and between neurons and neural circuits.
- Alphaherpesviruses establish persistent, quiescent infections in the PNS, with potential for CNS complications.
- Complex viral-host protein interactions regulate NS dissemination.
Conclusions:
- Alphaherpesviruses possess unique strategies for neuroinvasion and spread.
- Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for managing NS infections.
- Alphaherpesviruses are valuable tools for investigating neural connectivity and function.
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