A Mutation in the Gene Abolishes Expression of the Newly Identified UL24.5 Protein of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and Leads to an Increase in Pathogenicity in Mice.

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infects the host via epithelia and establishes latency in sensory neurons. The gene is conserved throughout the family, and the UL24 protein is important for efficient viral replication and pathogenesis. Multiple transcripts are expressed from the gene.