Herpesviruses are a class of viruses that establish life-long infections in human hosts. Estimates suggest that 90% of the population is infected with several of these viruses, including EBV, CMV, and herpes zoster, the cause of chicken pox. One herpesvirus, Herpes Simplex virus, causes recurrent cold sores in infected individuals. Thus, in spite of a robust anti-viral CD8 T cell response, these individuals still suffer from periodic virus-induced cold sores following exposure to UV light or certain hormones or other stressors. This anti-viral CD8 T cell response:
A) Eliminates infected epithelial cells but not infected neurons
B) Is unable to kill virus-infected cells
C) Produces IFN-$\gamma$ that has no effect on virus replication
D) Is prevented from trafficking to the site of virus replication due to virus-encoded chemokine receptor antagonists
E) Is inhibited by virus-encoded anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10

Question

Herpesviruses are a class of viruses that establish life-long infections in human hosts. Estimates suggest that >90% of the population is infected with several of these viruses, including EBV, CMV, and herpes zoster, the cause of chicken pox. One herpesvirus, Herpes Simplex virus, causes recurrent cold sores in infected individuals. Thus, in spite of a robust anti-viral CD8 T cell response, these individuals still suffer from periodic virus-induced cold sores following exposure to UV light or certain hormones or other stressors. This anti-viral CD8 T cell response:
A) Eliminates infected epithelial cells but not infected neurons
B) Is unable to kill virus-infected cells
C) Produces IFN-$\gamma$ that has no effect on virus replication
D) Is prevented from trafficking to the site of virus replication due to virus-encoded chemokine receptor antagonists
E) Is inhibited by virus-encoded anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The robust anti-viral CD8 T cell response against herpesviruses is able to eliminate infected epithelial cells, but not infected neurons. This is because the virus establishes latency in the neurons and is able to evade the immune response in this location. Thus, infected individuals continue to suffer from periodic cold sores, despite the presence of a strong anti-viral CD8 T cell response.

Herpesviruses Are a Class of Viruses That Establish Life-Long Infections γ\gammaγ

Herpesviruses Are a Class of Viruses That Establish Life-Long Infections $\gamma$