Latency is a characteristic of which one of the following viruses?
Latency is a characteristic of which one of the following viruses?
Select an option to attempt
Correct Answer: Option A
Explanation
Herpesviruses and neuronal latency:Herpesviruses establish LIFELONG LATENT INFECTIONS in neurons:• HSV-1 (Herpes Simplex Virus 1): Latency in trigeminal ganglia; reactivation causes cold sores.• HSV-2: Latency in sacral ganglia; reactivation causes genital herpes.• VZV (Varicella-Zoster Virus): Primary infection = chickenpox; latency in dorsal root/cranial ganglia; reactivation = shingles (herpes zoster).Mechanism: During latency, only LATs (Latency-Associated Transcripts) are expressed; no viral proteins → immune evasion.Reactivation triggers: stress, UV light, fever, immunosuppression.Viruses that do NOT establish neuronal latency:• Poliovirus (Picornaviridae): causes acute infection/lytic cycle.• Rhinovirus: causes common cold; acute infection.• Influenza virus: causes acute respiratory infection; no latency.Answer: Herpes viruses (HSV-1, HSV-2, VZV) establish lifelong latency in neurons.