Review
Virology
Wayne L. Gray
Summary: This article discusses the similarities and differences between varicella zoster virus (VZV) and simian varicella virus (SVV) in causing chickenpox and herpes zoster, as well as their similarities and differences in genome. The gene expression during viral latency is also described, along with the evolutionary relationship between these two viruses.
Article
Virology
Ravi Mahalingam, Brittany Feia, Colin Coleman, Kusala Anupindi, Pratush Saravanan, Amalia Luthens, Amalia Bustillos, Arpita Das, Eileen de Haro, Lara Doyle-Meyers, Jayme Looper, Andrew N. Bubak, Christy S. Niemeyer, Brent Palmer, Maria A. Nagel, Vicki Traina-Dorge
Summary: Nonhuman primates are valuable animal models for studying varicella zoster virus disease. This study found that both SVV DNA and antigens can be detected in skin lesions during varicella and zoster, providing the basis for further research on SVV skin pathogenesis.
Article
Immunology
Anne A. Gershon, Michael D. Gershon, Eugene D. Shapiro
Summary: The development and application of the varicella vaccine has brought significant health benefits to children and immunocompromised patients worldwide, reducing the incidence of varicella as well as decreasing the incidence of herpes zoster. Additionally, the vaccine provides protection against the varicella-zoster virus and offers an extra layer of prevention for susceptible adults.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Virology
Ralph Tayyar, Dora Ho
Summary: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) are alpha herpesviruses that cause recurrent infections and significant complications, especially in immunocompromised hosts. Virus-specific tests are crucial in diagnosing atypical cases. Antiviral drugs like acyclovir and valacyclovir are commonly used, with foscarnet as an alternative for resistant cases. Prophylaxis should be considered for high-risk cancer patients, and vaccines are available for preventing varicella and zoster.
Article
Otorhinolaryngology
Seth Davis, Evan Thomas, Anne Lowery, Charissa Kahue, Alexander Gelbard
Summary: This retrospective study reviewed the presentation, clinical course, and functional outcomes of three patients with laryngopharyngeal varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation. Early initiation of systemic therapy and serial endoscopic evaluations are critical for acute management. Otolaryngologists should plan for long-term phonatory and deglutitive therapy in these cases, as neurologic sequelae can persist for months to years.
ANNALS OF OTOLOGY RHINOLOGY AND LARYNGOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Mary D. Maher, Vivian Paraskevi Douglas, Konstantinos A. A. Douglas, Sarah I. Collens, Aubrey L. Gilbert, Nurhan Torun, Joshua P. Klein, Lucia Sobrin, Bradley R. Buchbinder, Rajiv Gupta, Shibani S. Mukerji, Bart K. Chwalisz
Summary: This study investigated the clinical and MRI characteristics of 37 patients with VZV reactivation involving cranial nerves and CNS, finding that optic perineuritis (OPN) is a common manifestation in VZV-associated vision loss among immunocompetent patients, while immunosuppressed patients had greater neuraxis involvement. Optimizing MRI protocols may improve early diagnosis in VZV reactivation.
JOURNAL OF THE NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kevin M. Bakker, Marisa C. Eisenberg, Robert Woods, Micaela E. Martinez
Summary: By studying the notifications of chickenpox and shingles in Thailand, it was found that both diseases have strong seasonal incidences, with a 3-month lag between the peak transmission season of chickenpox and the peak reactivation of shingles. The study utilized 14 mathematical models to examine the biological drivers of chickenpox and shingles, estimating rates of VZV transmission, reactivation, and immunity-boosting, with a focus on understanding the underlying mechanisms of the seasonal cycles of the two diseases.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Shivam K. Purohit, Alexandra J. Corbett, Barry Slobedman, Allison Abendroth
Summary: This study demonstrates that mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are susceptible to varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection and exhibit changes in the expression of functional markers. Infected MAIT cells are capable of transferring infectious virus to other permissive cells and retain the ability to migrate and activate in skin sites.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ranran Tu, Jianyang Liu, Fan Cheng, Weipin Weng, Hainan Zhang, Yi Shu, Xiaomei Wu, Zhiping Hu, Jie Zhang
Summary: This case highlights the importance of recognizing the unusual phenomenon of traditional tests in VZV meningoencephalitis with meningomyelitis and the need for timely use of further precise examinations to detect viral DNA, in order to prevent missed diagnosis.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Subin Park, Na-Eun Kim, Bang Ju Park, Hak Cheol Kwon, Yoon-Jae Song
Summary: Kaempferol, a natural compound with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, was found to significantly inhibit varicella-zoster virus replication in vitro without cytotoxicity. It exerts its antiviral effect by blocking viral DNA replication stage.
Article
Microbiology
Tomohiko Sadaoka, Daniel P. Depledge, Labchan Rajbhandari, Judith Breuer, Arun Venkatesan, Jeffrey Cohen
Summary: The variant allele in the glycoprotein B (gB) gene plays a crucial role in the attenuation of the varicella vaccine. This variant impairs fusion, virus entry into neurons, and replication in human skin cells. Understanding the molecular basis for vaccine attenuation could aid in the development of other herpesvirus vaccines.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Kevin M. Bakker, Marisa C. Eisenberg, Robert J. Woods, Micaela E. Martinez
Summary: This study examines the long-term impacts of chickenpox and shingles vaccination. Simulations show that introducing the chickenpox vaccine decreases chickenpox incidence, but high coverage levels may increase shingles incidence. Targeting moderate chickenpox vaccine coverage can minimize the burden of shingles.
Review
Virology
Peter G. E. Kennedy
Summary: Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV) is a pathogenic alpha herpes virus that causes chickenpox and shingles. In addition to shingles, VZV reactivation can lead to post-herpetic neuralgia and various other neurological conditions such as vasculopathy, giant cell arteritis, segmental motor weakness, myelitis, cranial nerve syndromes, Guillain-Barre syndrome, meningoencephalitis, and zoster sine herpete. However, the limited number of reported cases and the issue of causation when neurological conditions occur without the presence of a shingles rash complicate the field.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Tian Tao, Jun Chen, Kunlan Long, Lijia Zhi, Song Zhang, Shuqin Liu, Yuexian Ma, Hong Yan, Lizeyu Lv, Yue Xu, Ling Wu, Liangbin Zhao, Peiyang Gao
Summary: Meningoencephalomyelitis and visceral dissemination infection are rare but life-threatening complications of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in immunocompromised patients. This study reports a case of a 23-year-old male with lupus nephritis who developed VZV meningoencephalomyelitis and visceral disseminated VZV infection. The patient received intravenous acyclovir and other supportive treatments, but did not show improvement and eventually abandoned therapy due to financial constraints.
Article
Neurosciences
Dana M. Cairns, Ruth F. Itzhaki, David L. Kaplan
Summary: The Varicella zoster virus (VZV) indirectly contributes to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by causing gliosis and increasing levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, VZV infection of cells quiescently infected with HSV-1 leads to the reactivation of HSV-1 and AD-like changes, including amyloid-beta and P-tau accumulation.
JOURNAL OF ALZHEIMERS DISEASE
(2022)
