Multiple determinants contribute to the virulence of HSV ocular and CNS infection and identification of serine 34 of the US1 gene as an ocular disease determinant.

Purpose: The virulence of any given strain of herpes simplex virus (HSV) is probably due to the effects of the constellation of genes in that strain and how they act in concert to promote disease. The goal of this work was to develop a system to identify and study the role of multiple genes in HSV disease.

Methods: Mixed ocular infection with HSV-1 strains CJ394 and OD4 yield recombinants with increased ocular and central nervous system (CNS) virulence.