The establishment of persistent herpes simplex virus infections in ganglia of the peripheral nervous system (C02)

• Subject Area: Virology
• Term: from 2010 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 158989968

Alphaherpesviruses such as Herpes Simplex Viruses (HSV-1, HSV-2) and Varizella Zoster Virus establish life-long infections in sensory nerve ganglia. We have identified specific isoforms of the nuclear transport factor importin α which are unexpectedly recruited by incoming viral capsids for both, long-distance axonal transport as well as specific targeting to the nucleus. Our data indicate the HSV-1 large tegument protein pUL36 coordinates the functions of axonal transport motors and importin α and its cofactor importin β to targeting the largest known cargo of these cellular machines, the herpesvirus capsids to the nuclear pores.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 900: Chronic Infections: Microbial Persistence and its Control
• Applicant Institution: Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Beate Sodeik