To understand further the molecular events underlying the process of Varice
lla-zoster virus (VZV) latency in human ganglionic tissues, in situ hybridi
sation (ISH) for VZV RNA and DNA, and PCR in situ amplification for VZV DNA
were used in human dorsal root ganglia from 12 individuals (3 normal and 9
who had died with AIDS). The results showed that (a) two separate regions
of the VZV genome, represented by genes 4 and 40, were detected in neurons
in two normal and three AIDS ganglia, (b) evidence of transcription of VZV
genes 4, 21, 29, and 63 was found in normal and AIDS cases, and (c) VZV DNA
and RNA for the same gene (gene 29) was detected in neurons in serial tiss
ue sections in three cases. Thus more than one region of the VN genome is p
resent in neurons during VZV ganglionic latency, and the presence of both a
VN gene and its corresponding RNA transcript can be shown to occur in the
same localised region of DRG tissue. (C) 1999 Academic Press.