Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes varicella and establishes latency in sensory ganglia. VZV reactivation results in herpes zoster. We developed a model using human dorsal root ganglion (DRG) xenografts in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice to investigate VZV infection of differentiated neurons and satellite cells in vivo. DRG engrafted under the kidney capsule and contained neurons a...


 Disseminated varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection has devastating impacts on patients’ quality of life, with increasing morbidity and mortality. Thus, it is imperative that a diagnosis be made early. This case description illustrates unique dramatic presentation disseminated VZV important clinical implications.

INTRODUCTION Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) is associated with many disorders of the central and peripheral nervous systems including neuralgia, meningitis, meningoencephalitis, cerebellitis, vasculopathy, myelopathy, Ramsay-Hunt syndrome, and polyneuritis cranialis. Cranial nerves V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, and/or XII may be affected. The neurological disorders caused by VZV usually present wi...

INTRODUCTION Genotyping of wild type of varicella zoster virus (VZV) in Sri Lanka would help to distinguish the VZV wild type infection from varicella vaccine associated infections. METHODS PCR-RFLP analysis of VZV ORF 38, 54 and 62 was used for genotyping in VZV from blood or vesicular fluid from 31 patients with chickenpox or herpes zoster. The PstI restriction site of ORF 38, BglI restrict...

The varicella zoster virus (VZV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV) IgGl-4 subclasses were compared in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 22 patients with VZV-associated neurological symptoms, 12 patients with HSV-associated neurological symptoms and 14 controls. The clinical syndromes of the VZV-associated diseases comprised meningo-encephalitis, myelitis, myelopathies and polyneuropathies, mo...

BACKGROUND Varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes varicella and herpes zoster. These vaccine preventable diseases are common globally. Most available data on VZV epidemiology are from industrialised temperate countries and cannot be used to guide decisions on the immunization policy against VZV in Africa. This systematic review aims to review the published data on VZV morbidity and mortality in Af...

BACKGROUND Although Varicella Zoster virus (VZV) infections occur worldwide, the epidemiology is remarkably different in tropical and temperate climates. VZV infections result in significant morbidity and mortality among adults in Sri Lanka. AIMS For future VZV vaccination strategies, we set to determine the age-specific seroprevalence rate of VZV infections in Colombo, Sri Lanka. MATERIALS...

In 1998, a varicella-zoster virus glycoprotein E (gE) mutant virus (VZV-MSP) was isolated from a child with chickenpox. VZV-MSP, representing a second VZV serotype, was considered a rarity. We isolated another VZV-MSP-like virus from an elderly man with herpes zoster. These gE mutant viruses may have arisen through independent mutation or may represent a distinct VZV subpopulation that emerged ...

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) encodes a functional cell membrane Fc receptor called glycoprotein gE. VZV gE resembles other mammalian cell membrane receptors, such as the mammalian Fc receptor. In further analyses by transient transfection, the cellular trafficking of VZV gE was compared to other cell surface receptors. VZV gE was shown to undergo endocytosis from the cell membrane when visualiz...