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Updated: Jan 15, 2026
11:56
Ex Vivo Infection of Murine Epidermis with Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1
Published on: August 24, 2015
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Rapid glycoprotein evolution enables variant interactions in herpes simplex virus type 1.
Thomas Höfler1,2, Michaela Zeitlow1, Ji Y Kim1,2
1Institut für Virologie, Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Straße 7, 14163 Berlin, Germany.
Virus Evolution
|October 8, 2025
Summary
Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) rapidly evolved, showing how viral glycoproteins influence cell fusion, immune escape, and interactions within virus populations. This reveals glycoproteins
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Enveloped viruses like herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) utilize surface glycoproteins for cell entry and are targets for host immune responses.
- This creates an evolutionary balance between receptor recognition and immune evasion strategies.
- Herpesviruses possess diverse glycoproteins with varied molecular functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the rapid evolution of HSV-1, specifically focusing on syncytial plaque formation and antibody resistance.
- To identify genetic variants driving these phenotypic changes and understand their impact on viral population dynamics and glycoprotein function.
Main Methods:
- Experimental evolution using a hypermutator HSV-1 strain to accelerate genetic variation.
- Analysis of genetic variants leading to syncytial plaque phenotypes in Vero cell culture.
- Assessment of anti-glycoprotein D (gD) antibody resistance in human foreskin fibroblast cells.
Main Results:
- Multiple genetic variants were identified that induce syncytial plaque formation.
- Glycoprotein K (gK) mutants promoted collective syncytia formation, superinfection exclusion, and fitness at high multiplicities of infection.
- Glycoprotein E (gE) mutants conferred resistance to anti-gD antibodies and cross-protected wild-type virus.
Conclusions:
- Viral glycoproteins exhibit diverse functions and contribute to complex social interactions within herpesvirus populations.
- HSV-1 demonstrates significant evolutionary plasticity in response to selective pressures.
- Understanding glycoprotein evolution is crucial for developing antiviral strategies and comprehending virus-host dynamics.
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