Paper Example on Shingles and Chickenpox Virus

Abstract

Shingles and chickenpox diseases are caused by a virus known as varicella-zoster (VZV). VZV is an etiological agent that is restricted to humans and thus among the least human-characterized herpes-viruses. In this study, 251 MAbs (monoclonal antibodies) were generated verses 51 of 71 (83 percent) known VZV (unique) proteins in the characterization of the expression of VZV proteins in vitro & situ. By use of the new set of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), there was the detection of 44 proteins (viral) by WB (Western Blotting) as well as IF (Immunofluorescence); out of which WB alone detected 13 viral proteins, and IF alone discovered two viral proteins. Significant viral protein proportion analyses were carried out at instant (1st) in the virus infection context. Subcellular localization of 46 proteins was revealed, out of which, analysis of 14 was done in detail by the use of confocal microscopy. In our study, out of the 7 analyzed viral proteins through experimentation, a cascade-like gene (temporal) expression sequence, the same as the ones observed in all herpes-virus. The Mabs that were selected and tested showed positivity with the human skin lesions; this was by the use of immunohistochemistry, which demonstrated the broad MAb collection applications. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were explicitly used in reactions with simian varicella virus (SVV), to systematically analyze the VZV in non-human primates, thus a model for the analysis of varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Therefore, the study is focused on providing insights into the behavioral characteristic and mutation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) as well as simian varicella virus (SVV) and how they result in shingles and chickenpox through their pathogens.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

Keywords: shingles, chickenpox, virus, varicella-zoster virus (SVV), simian varicella virus (SVV), pathogens, ORF, MAbs, infection, proteins, viral, virions, infected, unique, antibody.

Introduction

A virus can be defined as a microscopic (usually submicroscopic) infectious agent, which upon infection will replicate inside the living cells of organisms. For this reason, viruses can infect any living thing, be it plants, animals, or microorganisms such as archaea and bacteria. These viruses can be manifested in different forms and types, so the need to be named based on their nature and form of harm they cause. For this paper, we shall focus on shingles and chickenpox virus for analysis in detail.

Shingles and chickenpox are usually two closely related conditions that often appear concurrently. For instance, based on experiences, a person might wake up one day with feelings of burning pain on any body part or rather side, and upon self-evaluation, he or she realizes appearance of red bumps, this will automatically indicate symptoms of shingles; definitely, it is true this is how shingles show up, also known the many as zoster. Shingles or zoster is usually caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus, which can be in dormant condition from the patient's childhood infection(s). The vaccine to shingles was approved in the United States in 2006 (COVID-19) et al.). The vaccine is known as Zostavax. According to one study on Shingles Prevention, with 3,8000 participants who were adults aged 60 years and above, of the males and females who were vaccinated with Zostavax, it was realized that they were half likely to get the ailment over three years on average follow-up in comparison to those who got a placebo shot (COVID-19) et al.). Moreover, the vaccinated participants who developed shingles were realized to have experienced a reduction of pain compared to those who got a placebo shot. Also, it was realized that the vaccine was more effective in participants aged between 60 to 69 years with its effectiveness declines with an increase in age, thus less effective for elderly individuals.

Based on the research studies since the 1950s, it is indicated that when a person recovers from a childhood chickenpox infection, varicella-zoster (which is the virus causing the disease) usually remains latent in the nerve cells (COVID-19) et al.). However, the cause of reactivation of the virus is unknown, but as people grow up (age), the immune system tends to weaken with time and so the immune response that usually keeps the varicella-zoster virus inactive or dormant in the nervous system also weaken; this is according to experts (COVID-19) et al.). Besides, it is also indicated that, out of three people, at least one will be infected with shingles during their lifetime and that at least half of persons aged 85 years and above have experienced the ailment (COVID-19) et al.).

When a person contracts a shingles rash, there is the involvement of a specific dermatome. The dermatome is that part of the skin that is supplied by the nerve involved and is usually on one side of the face or body. Although, there are cases when the shingles rashes can be spread widely all over one's body. Usually, prior to rash appearance, there is an indication of nerve symptoms of tingling, itching, burning, or pain. However, the shingles virus is not contagious, and therefore, it can be transmitted to other people causing chickenpox. In this case, antiviral drugs are a recommended prescription to lessen shingles' duration and severity despite the fact that the effectiveness of the drugs is dependent on the period after infection such that it is more effective when used immediately. Moreover, pain killers, as well as other remedies, can be used to treat persistent symptoms.

Even though shingles and chickenpox are caused by a similar virus (zoster), they are not identical illnesses or ailments (Apic.Org, 2020). Chickenpox, in this case, is usually a mild ailment or infection common in children. At the same time, shingles result from the reactivation of the virus a long time after the disappearance of the chickenpox ailment. For this reason, chickenpox usually stays in a person's body despite his or her recovery from the illness. Reactivation of the virus later on in the patient's life is what therefore causes shingles. A person who has shingles can transmit the infection (varicella virus) to individuals who have never been infected by chickenpox before in their entire life or preferably those who have never been vaccinated against chickenpox. Such individuals will end up developing chickenpox instead of shingles despite being infected by a person with shingles. This can take from 10 days to 21 days after the patient has come in contact with shingles or chickenpox for them to develop varicella virus. Table1 below highlights some of the comparisons between shingles and chickenpox.

The varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which is a virus causing shingles and chickenpox, belongs to the subfamily named alphaherpesvirus. VZV is a member of the Varicellovirus genus and that it is the only virus that can infect human beings. The primary infection of the VZV results in chickenpox disease usually occurs in children or someone's childhood years. Chickenpox occurs with vesicular rashes, which are highly contagious. Reactivation of VZV is what results in herpes zoster (HZ), primarily known as shingles.

VZV turns out to be the smallest herpesvirus (human), with a genome approximated at 125, 000 bp, which contains 74 ORFs (Open Reading Frames), that is, 3 (ORF64/69, ORF63/70, & ORF62/71) duplicated, and the rest 71 ORFs are unique (Lenac Rovis et al.). According to a report released recently, with systematic mutagenizing of the genome, it was revealed that out of the 71 ORFs, 44 of them are crucial in the replication of the virus. Moreover, VZV constitutes five unique genes, namely ORF57, ORF32, ORF13, ORF2, & ORF1, that are absent in HSV-1 (Herpes Simplex Virus 1) (Lenac Rovis et al.). The virion of VZV contains a nucleocapsid that is involved in harboring the DNA genome (double-stranded) that is covered by a layer of protein (tegmental) as well as a plasma membrane known as an envelope, which consists of glycoproteins (viral) (Lenac Rovis et al.).

Budding occurs in the envelope (nuclear) through the accessibility of the nucleocapsids from the nucleus (infected) into the cytoplasm, which leads to secondary envelope reception at the TGN (Trans-Golgi network) (Lenac Rovis et al.). Virions of VZV as produced from cutaneous lesions are usually highly infective such that they can be high cell-associated, particularly in propagating VZV in vitro. Therefore, infection of VZV is limited to humans with a consequent absence of animal theory/model that is appropriate.

Inoculation of rats, non-human primates, and mice with varicella-zoster virus (VZV) experimentally results in seroconversion and not in shingles (herpes zoster, HZ), and chickenpox or their resemblance (Lenac Rovis et al.). However, the restriction is overcome (partially) by the use of a SCID-humanized mouse model. In this model, there is the grafting of human tissue (fetal), which is then infected with the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Recent studies have suggested that non-human primate's SVV (Simian Varicella Virus) infection leads to a recapitulation of most VZV infection features in humans. Similar to VZV, simian varicella virus (SVV) is also a member of genus Varicellovirus as well as equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1 & 4), MDV (Marek's disease virus), BHV (Bovine Herpes-Virus), and PRV (Pseudorabies Virus) (Lenac Rovis et al.).

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a high cell-related infection in vitro. Moreover, due to the absence of an appropriate animal model as well as tools that are virus-specific, including MAbs (monoclonal antibodies), multiple behavioral and mutational characteristics of VZV are not yet fully explained and described (Lenac Rovis et al.). In the past, only 29 polyclonal & 8 monoclonal antibodies verses 37 varicella-zoster virus proteins were illustrated (Lenac Rovis et al.). In attempts to understand the insights of the mutational behavior as well as pathogens (molecular) involved in varicella-zoster virus (VZV), we applied a varicella-zoster (VZV) open reading frame (ORF) clone collection as recently made in the generation of a genome-scale monoclonal antibody (MAb) collection as used in the subsequent performance of VZV protein analyses comprehensively.

Methodology

Viruses and CellsFor viruses and cells, both ATCC HTB-65 and ATCC CRL-2302, that is MeWo human melanoma cells, and ARPE-19 human retinal pigment epithelial cell line respectively was all cultured into DMEM (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium) in addition to supplementation with 10 percent FCS (Fetal Calf Serum), antibiotics, and L-glutamine.