Detection of the latency-associated transcript in neuronal cultures during the latent infection with herpes simplex virus type 1

The transcriptional studies reported in this paper indicate that the latency-associated transcript (LAT) is present in neuronal cultures during the latent infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). During the latent infection glycoprotein D (gD) mRNA, a mRNA characteristic of the productive infection, is not detected. However, following reactivation by nerve growth factor (NGF) deprivation, gD mRNA is detected in the neuronal cultures. Thus, the restricted viral gene expression in the in vitro neuronal model indicates that the latent infection in culture is analogous to that observed in vivo.