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3D Normal Human Neural Progenitor Tissue-Like Assemblies: A Model of Persistent VZV InfectionVaricella-zoster virus (VZV) is a neurotropic human alphaherpesvirus that causes varicella upon primary infection, establishes latency in multiple ganglionic neurons, and can reactivate to cause zoster. Live attenuated VZV vaccines are available; however, they can also establish latent infections and reactivate. Studies of VZV latency have been limited to the analyses of human ganglia removed at autopsy, as the virus is strictly a human pathogen. Recently, terminally differentiated human neurons have received much attention as a means to study the interaction between VZV and human neurons; however, the short life-span of these cells in culture has limited their application. Herein, we describe the construction of a model of normal human neural progenitor cells (NHNP) in tissue-like assemblies (TLAs), which can be successfully maintained for at least 180 days in three-dimensional (3D) culture, and exhibit an expression profile similar to that of human trigeminal ganglia. Infection of NHNP TLAs with cell-free VZV resulted in a persistent infection that was maintained for three months, during which the virus genome remained stable. Immediate-early, early and late VZV genes were transcribed, and low-levels of infectious VZV were recurrently detected in the culture supernatant. Our data suggest that NHNP TLAs are an effective system to investigate long-term interactions of VZV with complex assemblies of human neuronal cells.
Document ID
20140002877
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Presentation
Authors
Goodwin, Thomas J.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
April 11, 2014
Publication Date
October 28, 2013
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Report/Patent Number
JSC-CN-29799
Meeting Information
Meeting: Cambridge Health Institute (CHI) Meeting
Location: Boston, MA
Country: United States
Start Date: October 28, 2013
End Date: October 29, 2013
Sponsors: Health Effects Inst.
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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