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Varicella-Zoster Virus Open Reading Frame 2 Encodes a Membrane Phosphoprotein That Is Dispensable for Viral Replication and for Establishment of Latency

Year: 2002

Type: article

Abstract: Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) encodes six genes that do not have homologs in herpes simplex virus. One of these genes, VZV open reading frame 2 (ORF2), was expressed as a 31-kDa phosphoprotein in the membranes of infected cells. Unlike equine and bovine herpesvirus type 1 ORF2 homologs that are associated with virions, VZV virions contained no detectable ORF2 protein. The ORF2 deletion mutant established a latent infection in cotton rats at a frequency and with a number of VZV genomes similar to that of the parental virus. ORF63 transcripts, a hallmark of latent infection, were present in ganglia latently infected with both the ORF2 deletion mutant and parental VZV. Thus, ORF2 is the first VZV gene shown to be dispensable for establishment of latent infection in an animal model.

Source: Journal of Virology

DOI: 10.1128/jvi.76.7.3575-3578.2002

Authors: Hitoshi Sato, Lesley Pesnicak, Jeffrey I. Cohen

Institutions: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Language: English

Topic: Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W2032379706

FWCI: 3.266

Cites: 29

Cited by: 51

Related to: 10