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VZV Molecular Epidemiology

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Varicella-zoster Virus

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology ((CT MICROBIOLOGY,volume 342))

Abstract

The molecular epidemiology of varicella zoster virus (VZV) has led to an understanding of virus evolution, spread, and pathogenesis. The availability of over 20 full length genomes has confirmed the existence of at least five virus clades and generated estimates of VZV evolution, with evidence of recombination both past and ongoing. Genotyping by restriction enzyme analysis (REA) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) has proven that the virus causing varicella is identical to that which later reactivates as zoster in an individual. Moreover, these methods have shown that reinfection, which is mostly asymptomatic, may also occur and the second virus may establish latency and reactivate. VZV is the only human herpesvirus that is spread by the respiratory route. Genotyping methods, together with epidemiological data and modeling, have provided insights into global differences in the transmission patterns of this ubiquitous virus.

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Abbreviations

Bp:

Base pair

DNA:

Deoxyribonucleic acid

GC:

Guanisine cytosine

HSV:

Herpes simplex virus

ORF:

Open reading frame

P72:

Passage 72

PCR:

Polymerase chain reaction

R4:

Repeat 4

REA:

Restriction enzyme analysis

RFLP:

Restriction fragment length polymorphism

SNP:

Single nucleotide polymorphism

US:

United States

VZV:

Varicella zoster virus

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Acknowledgements

The author thank Richard Nichols, Ravinda Kanda, Nitu Sengupta, and Karin Averbeck for helpful discussions and critical reading of the manuscript. Work from the Breuer group was funded by The Barts and the London Special Trustees, the Medical Research Council, and The Welcome Trust.

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  1. University College London, Windeyer Building, 46 Cleveland St, W1 2BE, Bloomsbury, London

    Judith Breuer

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Infectious Diseases and Im, Head, VZV Research Laboratory, University of Sydney, Room 601 Blackburn Building D06, Sydney, 2006, New South Wales, Australia

    Allison Abendroth

  2. School of Medicine, Dept. Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University, Pasteur Drive 300, Stanford, 94305-5124, California, USA

    Ann M. Arvin

  3. 2215 Weiskotten Hall, Upstate Medical University, East Adams Street 750, Syracuse, 13210, New York, USA

    Jennifer F. Moffat

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Breuer, J. (2010). VZV Molecular Epidemiology. In: Abendroth, A., Arvin, A., Moffat, J. (eds) Varicella-zoster Virus. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, vol 342. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/82_2010_9

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