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
Immunology
Michelle M. Thomsen, Tobias Tyrberg, Kristoffer Skaalum, Madalina Carter-Timofte, Mette R. Freytag, Peter Norberg, Marie Helleberg, Merete Storgaard, Henrik Nielsen, Jacob Bodilsen, Anna Grahn, Trine H. Mogensen
Summary: This study identified potentially disease-causing variants associated with susceptibility to VZV encephalitis, suggesting disturbances in innate sensing and autophagy pathways may predispose individuals to VZV encephalitis.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
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)
Article
Immunology
Rahila Ansari, Lindsey B. Rosen, Andrea Lisco, Don Gilden, Steven M. Holland, Christa S. Zerbe, Robert A. Bonomo, Jeffrey Cohen
Summary: The study looked at a patient with varicella-zoster virus central nervous system vasculopathy and found that certain immune deficiencies can hinder interferon activity, potentially worsening the disease. Genes associated with severe varicella and/or zoster were also identified, indicating the critical role of interferon in controlling VZV infections. New treatment approaches for VZV infection in patients with specific immune deficiencies were suggested.
CLINICAL 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
Immunology
Mathilde Boccard, Anne Conrad, William Mouton, Florent Valour, Chantal Roure-Sobas, Emilie Frobert, Barbara Rohmer, Vincent Alcazer, Helene Labussiere-Wallet, Herve Ghesquieres, Fabienne Venet, Karen Brengel-Pesce, Sophie Trouillet-Assant, Florence Ader
Summary: This study evaluated Varicella zoster virus (VZV)-specific cell-mediated immunity (CMI) in allo-HSCT recipients and healthy individuals using immune functional assays. The results showed that allo-HSCT recipients had lower IFN-gamma release and T-cell proliferation after VZV stimulation compared to healthy individuals. A subset of allo-HSCT recipients showed recovery of VZV-specific CMI, which was indicated by higher IFN-gamma release and T-cell proliferation. Measurement of ifn-gamma gene expression in 24-hour stimulated whole blood could be an accurate test for VZV-specific CMI. The routine use of this immune functional assay for antiviral prophylaxis needs further evaluation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(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
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
Microbiology
Stefan L. Oliver, Yi Xing, Dong-Hua Chen, Soung Hun Roh, Grigore D. Pintilie, David A. Bushnell, Marvin H. Sommer, Edward Yang, Andrea Carfi, Wah Chiu, Ann M. Arvin
Summary: The Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is an important alphaherpesvirus responsible for various skin infections. The fusion process of the virus involves glycoproteins gB, gH, and gL, with the N-terminus of gB playing a critical role. The interaction of neutralizing and non-neutralizing antibodies with gB reveals important insights into the fusion mechanism, with mutations affecting the N-terminus of gB significantly inhibiting viral propagation.
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.