Latency-associated transcripts of equine herpesvirus type 4 in trigeminal ganglia of naturally infected horses.
Abstract: Equine herpesvirus type 4 (EHV-4) is a major respiratory pathogen of horses. Unlike most other members of the Alphaherpesvirinae, EHV-4 was regarded as non-neurotropic. Here, neural and lymphoid tissues of 17 horses have been analysed post-mortem. EHV-4 DNA was detected in 11 cases (65%) by PCR, exclusively in the trigeminal ganglia. In order to define the transcriptional activity, RNA preparations of 10 EHV-4 DNA-positive ganglia were investigated by nested RT-PCR. EHV-4-specific transcripts derived from genes 63 [herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) ICPO gene homologue] and 64 (HSV-1 ICP4 gene homologue) were detected in six trigeminal ganglia. In one other case, only gene 64-specific transcripts were present. All of the transcripts proved to be antisense orientated when a strand-specific RT-PCR was applied. Type-specific primers for gene 33 (encoding glycoprotein B) served to detect transcripts of an acute EHV-4-infection, which were found in only one of the six ganglia positive for gene 63- and gene 64-specific transcripts. Overall, these studies clearly demonstrate that EHV-4 is latent in trigeminal ganglia.
Publication Date: 1999-08-31 PubMed ID: 10466816DOI: 10.1099/0022-1317-80-8-2165Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research primarily explores the presence of genetic materials from the equine herpesvirus type 4 (EHV-4) in the trigeminal ganglia (a group of nerves in the face) of naturally infected horses. This discovery changes the previous perception that EHV-4 did not have a predilection for nervous tissue (non-neurotropic).
Research Methodology and Findings
- The researchers used neural and lymphoid tissues from 17 horses that had been naturally infected with EHV-4. These tissues were studied post-mortem.
- EHV-4 DNA was found in the trigeminal ganglia of 11 out of these 17 horses (about 65%), as established by PCR (Polymerase chain reaction—a common method to amplify and detect DNA sequences).
- Additionally, the researchers investigated the transcriptional activity, or essentially mapping which genes were active, in the EHV-4 DNA-positive ganglia.
- Interestingly, EHV-4-specific transcripts (fragments of genetic material derived from active genes) were found originating from genes 63 and 64 in six of the trigeminal ganglia. In one case, only gene 64-specific transcripts were present.
Strand-Specific RT-PCR
- When a strand-specific RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction—a variant of PCR to detect RNA sequences) was utilized, it showed that all of the genetic transcripts were antisense orientated. This means they were found on the strand of DNA that is the template for transcription, which gives valuable insight into how the virus’ genes are expressed.
Acute Infection Transcripts
- To detect transcripts indicating an active or acute EHV-4 infection, the team used type-specific primers for gene 33, which codes for glycoprotein B (a crucial component of the virus’ envelope).
- Astonishingly, these transcripts were found in only one of the six ganglia that were positive for gene 63- and gene 64-specific transcripts.
Summation of Findings
All these discoveries strongly suggest the ability of EHV-4 to persist in a latent (dormant) state in the trigeminal ganglia of infected horses, contradicting its earlier classification as non-neurotropic.
Cite This Article
APA
Borchers K, Wolfinger U, Ludwig H.
(1999).
Latency-associated transcripts of equine herpesvirus type 4 in trigeminal ganglia of naturally infected horses.
J Gen Virol, 80 ( Pt 8), 2165-2171.
https://doi.org/10.1099/0022-1317-80-8-2165 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 49, 14195 Berlin, Germany1.
- Institut für Veterinärpathologie, FU Berlin, Str. 518, Nr. 15, 14163 Berlin, Germany2.
- Institut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 49, 14195 Berlin, Germany1.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Herpesviridae Infections / pathology
- Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
- Herpesviridae Infections / virology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / virology
- Horses
- RNA, Viral
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Trigeminal Ganglion / pathology
- Trigeminal Ganglion / virology
- Varicellovirus / genetics
- Varicellovirus / isolation & purification
- Varicellovirus / physiology
- Virus Latency
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Ostler JB, Jones C. The Bovine Herpesvirus 1 Latency-Reactivation Cycle, a Chronic Problem in the Cattle Industry.. Viruses 2023 Feb 16;15(2).
- Toomer G, Workman A, Harrison KS, Stayton E, Hoyt PR, Jones C. Stress Triggers Expression of Bovine Herpesvirus 1 Infected Cell Protein 4 (bICP4) RNA during Early Stages of Reactivation from Latency in Pharyngeal Tonsil.. J Virol 2022 Dec 14;96(23):e0101022.
- El Brini Z, Fassi Fihri O, Paillot R, Lotfi C, Amraoui F, El Ouadi H, Dehhaoui M, Colitti B, Alyakine H, Piro M. Seroprevalence of Equine Herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) and Equine Herpesvirus 4 (EHV-4) in the Northern Moroccan Horse Populations.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 29;11(10).
- Pavulraj S, Eschke K, Theisen J, Westhoff S, Reimers G, Andreotti S, Osterrieder N, Azab W. Equine Herpesvirus Type 4 (EHV-4) Outbreak in Germany: Virological, Serological, and Molecular Investigations.. Pathogens 2021 Jun 25;10(7).
- Savoret J, Mesnard JM, Gross A, Chazal N. Antisense Transcripts and Antisense Protein: A New Perspective on Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1.. Front Microbiol 2020;11:625941.
- Marenzoni ML, Stefanetti V, Danzetta ML, Timoney PJ. Gammaherpesvirus infections in equids: a review.. Vet Med (Auckl) 2015;6:91-101.
- Tombácz D, Balázs Z, Csabai Z, Snyder M, Boldogkői Z. Long-Read Sequencing Revealed an Extensive Transcript Complexity in Herpesviruses.. Front Genet 2018;9:259.
- Depledge DP, Ouwendijk WJD, Sadaoka T, Braspenning SE, Mori Y, Cohrs RJ, Verjans GMGM, Breuer J. A spliced latency-associated VZV transcript maps antisense to the viral transactivator gene 61.. Nat Commun 2018 Mar 21;9(1):1167.
- Gray WL. Simian varicella in old world monkeys.. Comp Med 2008 Feb;58(1):22-30.
- Ou Y, Davis KA, Traina-Dorge V, Gray WL. Simian varicella virus expresses a latency-associated transcript that is antisense to open reading frame 61 (ICP0) mRNA in neural ganglia of latently infected monkeys.. J Virol 2007 Aug;81(15):8149-56.
- Perez S, Inman M, Doster A, Jones C. Latency-related gene encoded by bovine herpesvirus 1 promotes virus growth and reactivation from latency in tonsils of infected calves.. J Clin Microbiol 2005 Jan;43(1):393-401.
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