Herpes simplex virus assembly and spread in murine skin after infection from the outside
This study describes a novel murine <i>ex vivo</i> skin explant model to investigate early events in HSV-1 infection without causing significant tissue damage. To infect from the outside, via the apical keratinocytes, this method relies on gentle depilation, which maintains skin integrity. HSV-1 spread exclusively within the epidermis, with infection centers increasing over time and involving hundreds of keratinocytes. Using advanced microscopy techniques, we tracked HSV-1 spread at the cellular level and intracellular assembly of all intermediate virus structures. This model offers a valuable tool for studying the initial stages of HSV-1 infection, assessing viral mutant phenotypes, and testing antiviral compounds in a more physiological context to provide critical insights into HSV-1 pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies.
Authors
- Tsung-Yu Chao
- Madeleine de le Roi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7799-9399)
- Stephan Halle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7624-7005)
- Anja Pohlmann
- Anne Binz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6512-7406)
- Anna Buch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1415-4492)
- Korbinian Brand (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8209-3655)
- Reinhold Förster (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6190-7923)
- Katinka Döhner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8222-3085)
- Wolf‐Dieter Baumgartner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6122-2372)
- Timmy Richardo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4927-2715)
- Rudolf Bauerfeind
- Beate Sodeik (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4650-3036)
- Xiaokun Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0732-7404)
Institutions
- University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation (DE)
- Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (DE)
- German Center for Infection Research (DE)
- Institute of Immunology (HR)
- University of Veterinary Medicine (HU)
- Institute of Virology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SK)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Virology
- Published
- 2025-02-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1128/jvi.01638-24
- Primary Topic
- Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- University of Pennsylvania
- Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung
- Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- University of Surrey
- Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover
- Medical Research Council