Herpes Simplex Virus Latency Analyzed by In Situ Hybridization

Abstract

To date, in situ nucleic acid hybridization technology has proved singularly useful in generating information about the basic properties of latent herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections in vivo. In adapting extant methods to detect viral transcripts, convincing data have been gathered which identify (a) the cell in which the latent infection is established, and (b) the nature of viral transcripts present in latently infected cells. These ongoing descriptive studies provide the necessary insight and theoretical framework for investigations into the underlying mechanisms involved in latent infection. In addition to studies of latently infected cells, in situ methodology has been employed in several laboratories to investigate the pathogenesis of acute infection, largely confirming the conclusions earlier inferred from classical methods. This chapter focuses on the recent successes in analyses of latency made possible by the convergence of recombinant DNA technology, which generates single stranded probes of defined polarity and physical location on the viral genome, and increasingly sensitive techniques for in situ hybridization.

The research from the author’s Laboratory which is discussed here was supported by grant AI-06246 from the National Institute of Health, and RG 167-AI from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.