Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is ultimately dependent upon its host cell for replication. To ensure its reproduction, VZV reorganizes various cellular functions by taking advantage of pre-existing signalling pathways. Recently, it was demonstrated that the activation of stress-related mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways following infection led to increased phosphorylation of cellular transcription factors involved in VZV gene expression. Here, it was shown that members of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway are also influenced following VZV infection: c-Raf remained inactive in infected MeWo cells, whereas MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 were phosphorylated transiently, reaching their highest level of phosphorylation at between 10 and 12 h post-infection. Inhibition of this pathway resulted in a severe reduction in viral progeny and in an increased apoptotic response, indicating that the functionality of this cascade is essential for successful high-rate replication. In addition, the activities of Bad, a cytoplasmic target of ERK via ribosomal S6 kinase, and the nuclear-localized target c-Myc were analysed. Bad is a member of the Bcl-2 family and has a key function in regulating apoptosis. Pro-apoptotic functions of Bad are repressed by phosphorylation. A 10-fold increase in Bad phosphorylation at Ser-112 was detected following infection, which was suppressed after inhibition of ERK. The transcription factor c-Myc is involved in the regulation of cell growth and apoptosis. By performing immunoblots and quantitative RT-PCR, suppression of c-Myc expression was demonstrated at both the transcriptional and translational levels in VZV-infected cells. These results suggest that VZV optimizes the conditions for its replication in different ways: upregulation of proviral-acting systems and suppression of potentially antiviral-acting systems.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.81571-0 | DOI Listing |
BMC Infect Dis
January 2025
Department of Endocrinology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Background: Diabetes and malignant tumors often lead to abnormal immune function, increasing susceptibility to herpes zoster and severe post-herpetic neuralgia. Renal insufficiency following renal cell carcinoma surgery can be compounded by treatment with nephrotoxic antiviral drugs. There have also been case reports of herpes zoster occurring at the surgical site.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGynecol Obstet Fertil Senol
January 2025
Division of Virology, WHO Rubella National Reference Laboratory, Paris Saclay University Hospital, APHP, Paris, France; Université Paris-Saclay, INSERM U1184, CEA, Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-immune, Hematological and Bacterial diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
The Société de Pathologie Infectieuse de Langue Française released in 2024 a new national recommendation for clinical practice on the prevention and management of varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection during pregnancy and the perinatal period. The previous recommendation was issued in 1998, at a time of anti-VZV immunoglobulins shortage; it has hence become obsolete. This recommendation is a formalized expert consensus focusing on infectious diseases management; it is drawn up by a multidisciplinary working group (infectiologists, obstetricians, pediatricians, microbiologists, midwives, hygienists).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Med Virol
January 2025
Division of Immunization Services, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju-si, Republic of Korea.
Cureus
December 2024
Infectious Disease, Staten Island University Hospital, Staten Island, USA.
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a reactivation of the chickenpox virus that causes a painful, blistering rash. After a chickenpox infection, the virus lies dormant in nerve cells. When reactivated, usually in older adults or those with weakened immune systems, it travels along nerves, typically affecting a single strip of skin called a dermatome.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClin Gastroenterol Hepatol
January 2025
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville FL. Electronic address:
Description: The aim of this American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Clinical Practice Update (CPU) is to provide best practice advice (BPA) statements for gastroenterologists and other health care providers who provide care to patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The focus is on IBD-specific screenings (excluding colorectal cancer screening, which is discussed separately) and vaccinations. We provide guidance to ensure that patients are up to date with the disease-specific cancer screenings, vaccinations, as well as advice for mental health and general wellbeing.
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