Restricted varicella-zoster virus transcription in human trigeminal ganglia obtained soon after death

J Virol. 2012 Sep;86(18):10203-6. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01331-12. Epub 2012 Jun 27.

Abstract

We analyzed the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) transcriptome in 43 latently infected human trigeminal ganglia (TG) with postmortem intervals (PMIs) ranging from 3.7 to 24 h. Multiplex reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) revealed no VZV transcripts with a PMI of <9 h. Real-time PCR indicated a significant increase (P = 0.02) in VZV ORF63 transcript levels but not the virus DNA burden with longer PMI. Overall, both the breadth of the VZV transcriptome and the VZV ORF63 transcript levels in human cadaver TG increased with longer PMI.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Herpesvirus 3, Human / genetics*
  • Herpesvirus 3, Human / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Immediate-Early Proteins / genetics
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Postmortem Changes
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • RNA, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Time Factors
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Transcriptome
  • Trigeminal Ganglion / virology*
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Immediate-Early Proteins
  • RNA, Viral
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • immediate early protein 63, Human herpesvirus 3