Varicella zoster virus
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Classification
Higher order taxa
Virus Group I, dsDNA, Family Herpesviridae, Genus Varicellovirus, Species Human herpesvirus 3 (HHV-3)
Species
Varicellovirus human herpesvirus 3 (HHV-3)
Description and significance
Varicella Zoster Virus usually comes in two forms. Upon the first infection, it produces red, leathery postules and most often appears in children. This is generally known as "Varicella virus" or chicken pox. If the infection subsequently comes back, it is then typically a painful reddish rash that encompasses most of the body. This form of the disease is known as the "Herpes zoster" or shingles part, and mainly afflicts older people, or those with weakened immune systems. The only known hosts are humans, and people have been reporting cases of Varicella since ancient civilizations. By 1888, but the earliest
Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why it is important enough to have its genome sequenced. Describe how and where it was isolated.
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Genome structure
Being that it is an alpha herpes virus, The Varicella Virus has a latent period in the root ganglia cells, and then is reactivated as the Herpes Zoster Virus. The virion has a nucleocapsid with a protein covering separating it from the lipid envelope that contains the viral glycoproteins, and a core with a linear, double stranded DNA genome. The infection will bring out the immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin M, and immunoglobulin A antibodies which will then bind to various viral proteins. [1]
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Cell structure and metabolism
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Ecology
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Pathology
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Application to Biotechnology
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Current Research
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References
1. Arvin, AM. "Varicella Zoster Virus". Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 1996. Volume 3. p.361-381.
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