Pathogenesis of herpes simplex virus type 2 virion host shutoff (vhs) mutants
Smith, T.J.; Morrison, L.A.; Leib, D.A.
Journal of Virology 76(5): 2054-2061
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-538X
PMID: 11836383
DOI: 10.1128/jvi.76.5.2054-2061.2002
Accession: 011121119
During lytic infection, the virion host shutoff (vhs) protein mediates the rapid degradation of mRNA and the shutoff of host protein synthesis. In vivo, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) mutants lacking vhs activity are profoundly attenuated. Homologs of vhs exist in all of the neurotropic herpesviruses, and the goal of this study was to determine the virulence of HSV-2 mutants lacking vhs.