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
Immunology
Nathan B. Price, Charles Grose
Summary: Corticosteroids, especially in high dosages, may increase the risk of serious adverse events following live varicella and zoster vaccination. Studies have shown that patients receiving corticosteroids after vaccination are more prone to severe infectious complications, highlighting the importance of monitoring for such risks in clinical practice.
Article
Virology
Ning Luan, Han Cao, Yunfei Wang, Kangyang Lin, Cunbao Liu
Summary: The LNP-CpG-adjuvanted VZV-gE vaccine developed in this study demonstrated comparable immunogenicity and cell-mediated immunity levels to ShingrixTM in a mouse model, suggesting its potential as a more cost-effective zoster vaccine.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Chang Kyung Kang, Euijin Chang, Jongtak Jung, Eunyoung Lee, Kyoung-Ho Song, Pyoeng Gyun Choe, Ji-Hwan Bang, Eu Suk Kim, Sang Won Park, Hong Bin Kim, Nam Joong Kim, Wan Beom Park, Myoung-don Oh
Summary: Seropositive healthcare workers without a history of varicella, especially those who received the vaccine only once, showed significantly lower levels of immune responses to varicella-zoster virus.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
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
Marco Krasselt, Christoph Baerwald, Uwe G. Liebert, Olga Seifert
Summary: The study revealed that VZV IgG antibody concentrations in SLE patients were comparable to healthy controls but higher than in RA patients. Young SLE patients aged between 30 and 39 had the highest antibody levels, while RA patients had the lowest concentrations.
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
Virology
Wenhui Xue, Tingting Li, Sibo Zhang, Yingbin Wang, Minqing Hong, Lingyan Cui, Hong Wang, Yuyun Zhang, Tingting Chen, Rui Zhu, Zhenqin Chen, Lizhi Zhou, Rongwei Zhang, Tong Cheng, Qingbing Zheng, Jun Zhang, Ying Gu, Ningshao Xia, Shaowei Li
Summary: In this study, a new immunogen for vaccine design was created by displaying VZV-gE on the baculovirus surface. The engineered baculovirus demonstrated correct localization and display of gE. The resulting vaccine showed excellent antigenicity against VZV and induced stronger immune responses in mice, making it a promising candidate for HZ vaccine development.
Article
Immunology
Arnaud G. L'Huillier, Cedric Hirzel, Victor H. Ferreira, Matthew Ierullo, Terrance Ku, Nazia Selzner, Jeffrey Schiff, Stephen Juvet, Congrong Miao, D. Scott Schmid, Atul Humar, Deepali Kumar
Summary: The study evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of RZV in VZV-seronegative SOT patients, showing that RZV elicited significant humoral and cellular immune responses, indicating its potential as a preventive strategy against primary varicella.
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
Immunology
Alemnew F. Dagnew, Nicola P. Klein, Caroline Herve, George Kalema, Emmanuel Di Paolo, James Peterson, Bruno Salaun, Anne Schuind
Summary: The study found that the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) induced strong humoral and polyfunctional cell-mediated immune responses in adults aged >= 65 years, regardless of prior vaccination with the live-attenuated herpes zoster vaccine (ZVL). The safety profile of RZV was not affected, and no confirmed herpes zoster cases were reported.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
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
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Min Li, Zhihui Liang, Chen Chen, Ge Yu, Zhiying Yao, Yiyang Guo, Lei Zhang, Hang Bao, Duo Fu, Xuecheng Yang, Huiyang Wang, Changying Xue, Bingbing Sun
Summary: A one-step strategy using VLPs as biotemplates to synthesize raspberry-like silica-adjuvanted VLP@Silica nano vaccines was developed to enhance balanced immunity and improve antigen-specific antibody and T-cell mediated immune responses.