Viruses are all around us in this world. They all vary in size, shape, genomic contents, and a variety of other characteristics. Some viruses are more deadly than other viruses and some viruses are very uncommon. There are some odd viruses that can cause a disease; be fought off by the immune system, but instead of dying retreat back into the host and lie dormant until another time. A common example of this type of virus is the Varicella Zoster virus. This is the virus that causes chicken pox in children and young adults, but is also the culprit for shingles in elder adults. Varicella Virus has the ability to “hide out” from the body’s immune system until the time is right to strike.
The Varicella Zoster Virus is a part of the Herpesvirdae family[1]. Characteristics of this class of virus are a primary infection followed by dormant and latency phase which then another infection comes from. Herpes is a disease similar to Chicken Pox and Shingles, but this paper is going to exclude the Herpes Simplex and talk only of the Varicella Zoster virus that causes Chicken Pox and Shingles. The Varicella Zoster virus (VZV) replicates in the cells of the body. It targets the epithelial cells and replicates inside them[2]. The VZV has a protein capsid that is described as polygonal or spherical[3]. The capsid contains the genetic material for the virus, which is double stranded DNA[3]. This enveloped capsid docks at the nuclear pore of the epithelial cells and are taken in via endocytosis leaving the envelope behind. The protein capsid is kept intact until the virus travels through the cytoplasm and into the nucleus. There the double stranded DNA is released into the nucleus and it assembled into the host cell’s DNA. As the host cell replicates its DNA, the VZV is also replicated this is known as lysogenic replication. This newly formed VZV genetic material are put into capsids that are made in the nucleus. The capsid with the genetic material inside buds out of the nucleus and heads though the cytoplasm to the trans-Golgi. At the trans-Golgi assembly of tegument proteins is completed along with the enveloping of the virus. The newly enveloped VZV is then released through the cell membrane to go infect other cells[2]. When an individual comes in contact and becomes infected with the Varicella Zoster virus there are steps the virus takes. The virus wants to infect T-cells[2]. The initial infection is known as Chicken Pox, by infecting the body it scatters the immune-response. The T-cells can then deliver the virus to cutaneous sites and allow the virus to spread into lymphoid tissues[2]. The virus can gain access to the sensory ganglia where it can go into a latent stage. This kind of transporting the virus is called retrograde transport. The dorsal root ganglion is located on the spinal cord. The virus will lay dormant in this area until the host immune system becomes weak. The virus then is released and goes on to infect the dermatome, this is the shingles infection. This infection is caused by …show more content…
Schools and kids parties are the perfect place to spread around the VZV. The reservoir for VZV is humans. The disease is communicable five days before the rash forms and the entire time the rash is visual,.[4] Virus is transported in the air via the respiratory tract. This is where the virus initially replicates and then interacts with the lymph nodes. The virus is also transferable if direct contact is made with the lesions of an infected person. Once the person has contracted the disease and fought of the chicken pox then it is very unlikely that they will get chicken pox again because the body will recognize the virus again and be able to have a faster immune response using the IgG antibodies[1]. I was talking with my dentist and she explained to me that she had a “chicken pox party” where she took her kids and exposed them to another child who had chicken pox so her kids would get the disease at younger ages. The virus symptoms are worse in patients the older they get, but I do not know if I would recommend going to a “chicken pox
The Varicella Zoster Virus is a part of the Herpesvirdae family[1]. Characteristics of this class of virus are a primary infection followed by dormant and latency phase which then another infection comes from. Herpes is a disease similar to Chicken Pox and Shingles, but this paper is going to exclude the Herpes Simplex and talk only of the Varicella Zoster virus that causes Chicken Pox and Shingles. The Varicella Zoster virus (VZV) replicates in the cells of the body. It targets the epithelial cells and replicates inside them[2]. The VZV has a protein capsid that is described as polygonal or spherical[3]. The capsid contains the genetic material for the virus, which is double stranded DNA[3]. This enveloped capsid docks at the nuclear pore of the epithelial cells and are taken in via endocytosis leaving the envelope behind. The protein capsid is kept intact until the virus travels through the cytoplasm and into the nucleus. There the double stranded DNA is released into the nucleus and it assembled into the host cell’s DNA. As the host cell replicates its DNA, the VZV is also replicated this is known as lysogenic replication. This newly formed VZV genetic material are put into capsids that are made in the nucleus. The capsid with the genetic material inside buds out of the nucleus and heads though the cytoplasm to the trans-Golgi. At the trans-Golgi assembly of tegument proteins is completed along with the enveloping of the virus. The newly enveloped VZV is then released through the cell membrane to go infect other cells[2]. When an individual comes in contact and becomes infected with the Varicella Zoster virus there are steps the virus takes. The virus wants to infect T-cells[2]. The initial infection is known as Chicken Pox, by infecting the body it scatters the immune-response. The T-cells can then deliver the virus to cutaneous sites and allow the virus to spread into lymphoid tissues[2]. The virus can gain access to the sensory ganglia where it can go into a latent stage. This kind of transporting the virus is called retrograde transport. The dorsal root ganglion is located on the spinal cord. The virus will lay dormant in this area until the host immune system becomes weak. The virus then is released and goes on to infect the dermatome, this is the shingles infection. This infection is caused by …show more content…
Schools and kids parties are the perfect place to spread around the VZV. The reservoir for VZV is humans. The disease is communicable five days before the rash forms and the entire time the rash is visual,.[4] Virus is transported in the air via the respiratory tract. This is where the virus initially replicates and then interacts with the lymph nodes. The virus is also transferable if direct contact is made with the lesions of an infected person. Once the person has contracted the disease and fought of the chicken pox then it is very unlikely that they will get chicken pox again because the body will recognize the virus again and be able to have a faster immune response using the IgG antibodies[1]. I was talking with my dentist and she explained to me that she had a “chicken pox party” where she took her kids and exposed them to another child who had chicken pox so her kids would get the disease at younger ages. The virus symptoms are worse in patients the older they get, but I do not know if I would recommend going to a “chicken pox