Human alphaherpesviruses including herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1, HSV-2) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) establish persistent latent infection in sensory neurons for the life of the host. All three viruses have the potential to reactivate causing recurrent disease. Regardless of the homology between the different virus strains, the three viruses are characterized by varying pathologies. This review will highlight the differences in infection pattern, immune response, and pathogenesis associated with HSV-1 and VZV.

A significant fraction of patients with herpes zoster, caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV), experience chronic pain termed postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). VZV-inoculated rats develop prolonged nocifensive behaviors and serve as a model of PHN. We demonstrate that primary rat cultures show a post-entry block for VZV replication, suggesting the rat is not fully permissive. However, footpads of VZV infected animals show reduced peripheral innervation and innervating dorsal root ganglia (DRG) contained VZV DNA and transcripts of candidate immediate early and early genes. The VZV-infected DRG showed changes in host gene expression patterns, with 84 up-regulated and 116 down-regulated genes seen in gene array studies. qRT-PCR validated the modulation of nociception-associated genes Ntrk2, Trpv1, and Calca (CGRP). The data suggests that VZV inoculation of the rat results in a single round, incomplete infection that is sufficient to induce pain behaviors, and this involves infection of and changes induced in neuronal populations.

Elaeocarpus yoga Merr. (Tiliaceae) is an attractive tree indigenous to the Mariana Islands and Palau. Recently its population has declined due to deforestation, typhoon damage, and pest problems. Stem cuttings of E. yoga were taken from hardwood, semihardwood, or softwood and treated with acid or salt forms of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or napthaleneacetic acid (NAA) at several concentrations. The cuttings were treated with on of the following: acid form at 0.5 mL·L-1 IBA + 0.25 mL·L-1 NAA; 1 mL·L-1 IBA + 0.5 mL·L-1 NAA, 2 mL·L-1 IBA + 1 mL·L-1 NAA; salt form at 1, 3, and 8 g·kg-1 IBA/. Rooting after 8 weeks was compared among treatments. The salt form of the IBA treatment at 3 g·kg-1 produced the greatest rooting percentage, root number and length. The acid form containing both IBA and NAA produced the smallest average rooting percentage.

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