Establishing a New Technique for the Generation of Human Peripheral Sensory Neurons for the Study of Varicella Zoster Virus

Abstract

VZV (Varicella Zoster Virus or human herpesvirus 3, HHV-3) is a pathogenic human alpha herpesvirus that causes varicella (chicken pox). Primary infection begins with itchy, inflamed blisters on the surface of the skin. Infection also takes place in the peripheral nervous system and establishes a long period of latency in the peripheral nervous system. After a variable period of time, the virus can reactivate, due to a variety of factors, including increased age and immunosuppression. The reactivated virus causes herpes zoster (shingles), characterized by extremely painful vesicular skin eruptions and frequently complicated by acute pain, diverse neurological sequelae, vision problems, and long lasting post-herpetic neuralgia.