BHV-1: New Molecular Approaches to Control a Common and Widespread Infection

Abstract

Background: Herpesviruses are widespread viruses, causing severe infections in both humans and animals. Eradication of herpesviruses is extremely difficult because of their ability to establish latent and lifelong infections. However, latency is only one tool that has evolved in herpesviruses to successfully infect their hosts; such viruses display a wide (and still incompletely known) panoply of genes and proteins that are able to counteract immune responses of their hosts. Envelope glycoproteins and cytokine inhibitors are two examples of such weapons. All of these factors make it difficult to develop diagnostics and vaccines, unless they are based on molecular techniques. Materials and Methods: Animal herpesviruses, because of their striking similarity to human ones, are suitable models to study the molecular biology of herpesviruses and develop strategies aimed at designing neurotropic live vectors for gene therapy as well as engineered attenuated vaccines. Results: BHV-1 is a neurotropic herpesvirus causing infectious rhinotracheitis (IBR) in cattle. It is a major plague in zootechnics and commercial trade, because of its ability to spread through asymptomatic carrier animals, frozen semen, and embryos. Such portals of infections are also important for human herpesviruses, which mainly cause systemic, eye, and genital tract infections, leading even to the development of cancer. Conclusions: This review covers both the genetics and molecular biology of BHV-1 and its related herpesviruses. Epidemiology and diagnostic approaches to herpesvirus infections are presented. The role of herpesviruses in gene therapy and a broad introduction to classic and engineered vaccines against herpesviruses are also provided.

Bovine herpesvirus type 5 (BHV-5) in a calf with rabies

“…However, in recent years, studies in search for other possible pathogens in rabies-negative specimens have led to the detection BHV-5 in a considerable number of such samples (Salvador et al 1998, Pinto et al 2000. This virus has followed a rather different evolutionary pathway, where infections usually do not lead to the host's death, but rather establish a form of coexistence, with the establishment of latent infections (Turin et al 1999). In analogy with a number of other herpesviruses (Roizman et al 1992), including some human pathogens (Tang et al 1997), cattle that actually die from BHV-5 encephalitis are probably only a fraction of animals who were actually infected with the virus.…”

Herpes Simplex Type 1 for Use in Cancer Gene Therapy: Looking Backward to Move Forward

“…BHV-1 causes infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) in cattle, manifesting in symptoms such as ocular and nasal secretions, lesions on mucosal surfaces, anorexia, dyspnoea, conjunctivitis, and abortions (Turin et al, 1999, Hushur et al, 2003. In approximately 10% of affected animals bacterial superinfection occurs, resulting in bronchopneumonia (Turin et al, 1999). However, in the absence of bronchopneumonia the infection is self-limiting due to the immune response, and recovery occurs within 1 to 2 weeks (Turin et al, 1999).…”

Implementing artificial insemination as an effective tool for ex situ conservation of endangered avian species

“…Studies are in progress in our laboratories evaluating the feasibility and efficacy of sperm washing and 'purification'. Nonetheless, the most sensible and cost-effective strategy is to implement and maintain a rigorous prophylactic program [68].…”