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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

A Primary Neuron Culture System for the Study of Herpes Simplex Virus Latency and Reactivation
Published on: April 2, 2012
Infection and inhibition of human cytotoxic T lymphocytes by herpes simplex virus
C M Posavad1, J J Newton, K L Rosenthal
1Department of Pathology, McMaster University Health Sciences Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract:
The effect of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection on human cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) lytic function was assessed. All HSV-infected CTL populations tested were significantly inhibited in lysing target cells. The inhibition of CTL lytic function by infection with HSV-1 was independent of T-cell receptor-mediated antigen recognition and did not involve virus-induced shutoff of host protein synthesis, the expression of the HSV-1 transactivation protein, ICP4, or replicating virus. Understanding the functional impairment of CTL following infection with HSV may have important implications for HSV-induced immunosuppression and the mechanism of HSV persistence in immunocompetent hosts.
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