RSS Feeds
Latent Herpesviruses of Humans
- M. COLIN JORDAN, M.D.;
- GEORGE W. JORDAN, M.D.;
- JACK G. STEVENS, D.V.M., Ph.D.; and
- GEORGE MILLER, M.D.
Abstract
The herpesviruses that infect humans characteristically establish a latent infection that may be reactivated later. The consequences of reactivation range from asymptomatic shedding to severe disseminated infection. Varicella-zoster and herpes simplex viruses are both highly neurotropic, establishing nonreplicating infections in sensory ganglia. Latent herpes simplex virus is known to reside in neurons, and the virus-cell interactions involved have been defined to an extent. Cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus interact with peripheral blood leukocytes. Latent cytomegalovirus infection of human leukocytes has not been proved, although studies in a murine model have implicated B lymphocytes as a repository of latent virus. Epstein-Barr virus is known to persist in a non-replicating state as extrachromosomal DNA in B lymphocytes and to cause "immortalization" of the infected cell; persistence of the viral genome in epithelial cells may also result in malignant transformation, such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Article and Author Information
-
▸An edited summary of an Interdepartmental Dean's Conference arranged by the Department of Medicine of the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Davis, California; and the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Martinez, California.
-
▸Authors who wish to cite a section of this conference and specifically indicate its author can use this example for the form of the reference:
JORDAN GW. Varicella-zoster virus, pp. 000-000. In: JORDAN MC, moderator. Latent herpesviruses of humans. Ann Intern Med. 1984;100:000-000.
-
▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to M. Colin Jordan, M.D.; Veterans Administration Medical Center (11 1F), 150 Muir Road; Martinez, CA 94553.
- © 1984 American College of Physicians
