Varicella-zoster virus recapitulates its immune evasive behaviour in matured hiPSC-derived neurospheroids.

ABSTRACT: Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) encephalitis and meningitis are potential central nervous system (CNS) complications following primary VZV infection or reactivation. With Type-I interferon (IFN) signalling being an important first line cellular defence mechanism against VZV infection by the peripheral tissues, we here investigated the triggering of innate immune responses in a human neural-like environment. For this, we established and characterised 5-month matured hiPSC-derived neurospheroids (NSPHs) containing neurons and astrocytes. Subsequently, NSPHs were infected with reporter strains of VZV (VZV^eGFP-ORF23) or Sendai virus (SeV^eGFP), with the latter serving as an immune-activating positive control. Live cell and immunocytochemical analyses demonstrated VZV^eGFP

SUBMITTER: Govaerts J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11439716 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature