Herpes Simplex Virus-1 in the Brain: The Dark Side of a Sneaky Infection.

Authors :: Marcocci ME
Napoletani G
Protto V
Kolesova O
Piacentini R
Li Puma DD
Lomonte P
Grassi C
Palamara AT
De Chiara G
Source :: Trends in microbiology [Trends Microbiol] 2020 Oct; Vol. 28 (10), pp. 808-820. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 May 05.
Publication Year :: 2020
Abstract: Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) establishes latency preferentially in sensory neurons of peripheral ganglia. A variety of stresses can induce recurrent reactivations of the virus, which spreads and then actively replicates to the site of primary infection (usually the lips or eyes). Viral particles produced following reactivation can also reach the brain, causing a rare but severe form of diffuse acute infection, namely herpes simplex encephalitis. Most of the time, this infection is clinically asymptomatic. However, it was recently correlated with the production and accumulation of neuropathological biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease. In this review we discuss the different cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the acute and long-term damage caused by HSV-1 infection in the brain.<br /> (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)