The Mechanism Of HSV-1 Transport In Sensory Axons And Its Unique Assembly At The Axon Terminus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$670,284.00
Summary
Herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 cause common diseases such as genital herpes and, occasionally, neonatal deaths and encephalitis and predisposes to HIV infection. New antiviral strategies are required for resistant viruses for control. These aims will be facilitated by understanding how HSV is transported down nerves and across into skin. In this study, we will define how a key viral protein plays a major role in assembly of the virus at the tip of the nerve before it enters skin.
Transport And Egress Of Herpes Simplex Virus In Neurones
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$592,023.00
Summary
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) enters the human body via the skin before entering the termini of nerve cell processes. It is transported along these processes to the body of the nerve cell. HSV lies dormant within these nerve cell bodies near the spinal cord in most people. Intermittently the virus reactivates and is transported back down the nerve cell processes to the skin where it causes blisters-ulcers or is shed without causing symptoms. The aim of this grant is to determine how HSV is transpor ....Herpes simplex virus (HSV) enters the human body via the skin before entering the termini of nerve cell processes. It is transported along these processes to the body of the nerve cell. HSV lies dormant within these nerve cell bodies near the spinal cord in most people. Intermittently the virus reactivates and is transported back down the nerve cell processes to the skin where it causes blisters-ulcers or is shed without causing symptoms. The aim of this grant is to determine how HSV is transported within nerve cells at the molecular level. Recent discoveries have shown how virus transport in nerve cells is dependent on interactions between specific viral proteins and cellular motor proteins and how the virus escapes from nerves to infect skin and cause disease. Such information on viral transport will allow development of inhibitors of this process which may be candidates for use as antivirals for control of recurrent herpes simplex. In addition, this information will allow the virus to be exploited for use in gene therapy to introduce DNA into human nerve cells to correct genetic abnormalities. Finally this data will assist in understanding similar mechanisms for other viruses transported in nerve cells such as those causing shingles and rabies.Read moreRead less