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Temporal Analysis of the Nuclear-to-cytoplasmic Translocation of a Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Protein by Immunofluorescent Confocal Microscopy
Published on: November 4, 2018
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Cell type-specific differences in herpes simplex virus type 1 infection and dependency on ICP27
Sabrina L Rutan1, Jill A Dembowski1
1Department of Biological Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Journal of Virology
|February 26, 2026
Summary
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection efficiency and outcomes vary by cell type. The essential viral protein infected cell protein 27 (ICP27) plays a cell-specific role in viral DNA replication, mRNA, and protein expression.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infects various cell types, but infection efficiency and outcomes differ.
- The viral protein infected cell protein 27 (ICP27) is crucial for efficient viral mRNA processing and transport.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cell type-specific differences in HSV-1 infection kinetics.
- To determine the role of ICP27 in HSV-1 infection across different cell types, including its impact on viral DNA replication.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of wild-type HSV-1 and an ICP27 deletion mutant infection in Vero, MRC-5, HFF, N/TERT-2G, and HeLa cells.
- Monitoring viral DNA replication, mRNA and protein expression, and infectious virus output.
Main Results:
- Wild-type HSV-1 infection kinetics (DNA replication, gene expression, virus output) are cell type-dependent.
- ICP27 deletion reduces viral mRNA and protein levels in all tested cell types.
- Some cell types exhibit a greater reliance on ICP27 for viral DNA replication.
Conclusions:
- Cellular context significantly influences HSV-1 infection efficiency and the requirement for ICP27.
- Findings highlight the importance of considering cell type-specific variations in HSV-1 research and interpreting data across different cell models.
