THE VIRION HOST SHUTOFF FUNCTION OF HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE-1 PLAYSA ROLE IN CORNEAL INVASION AND FUNCTIONS INDEPENDENTLY OF THE CELL-CYCLE

A significant restriction was demonstrated in the ability of herpes si mplex virus type 1 virion host shutoff (vhs) mutant viruses to invade the corneal epithelium. Viral replication and invasion was confined to the areas of the cornea which were scarified prior to infection. Diff erences between wild-type and vhs mutant replication in corneas in viv o were 100-to 1000-fold at all timepoints postinfection. Smaller but s till significant growth restrictions were observed in cultured corneal cells. This difference between in vitro and in vivo is not likely to be due to differences in cell cycle status since vhs-induced RNA degra dation can occur in both cycling and noncycling cells in vitro. The vh s function is therefore important for invasion of the cornea and secon darily the nervous system and is thereby required for efficient establ ishment of latency. (C) 1997 Academic Press.