The wide range of disease pathologies seen in multiple organ sites associated with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection results from the systemic hematogenous dissemination of the virus, which is mediated predominately by infected monocytes. In addition to their role in viral spread, infected monocytes are also known to play a key role in viral latency and life-long persistence. However, in o...

The spread of viral infection within a host can be restricted by bottlenecks that limit the size and diversity of the viral population. An essential process for alphaherpesvirus infection is spread from axons of peripheral nervous system neurons to cells in peripheral epithelia (anterograde-directed spread, ADS). ADS is necessary for the formation of vesicular lesions characteristic of reactiva...

A key hurdle in understanding the spread and control of infectious diseases is to capture appropriately the dynamics of pathogen transmission. As people and goods travel increasingly rapidly around the world, so do pathogens; we must be prepared to understand their spread, in terms of the contact network between hosts, viral life history and within-host dynamics. This will require collaborative...

Roots provide plants with mechanical stability and pure water. Wind and gravitational forces on plants are spread out by the roots over a large volume of soil. In a similar manner, roots absorb pure water and nutrients from moist soil. These processes are mathematically similar and have similar optimal solutions, unless the soil is inhomogeneous -i.e. if one part is wetter, whereas another part...

The mouse hind footpad inoculation model has served as a standard laboratory system for the study of the neuropathogenesis of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection. The temporal and spatial distribution of viral antigen, known as the transneuronal spread phenotype, has not previously been described; nor is it understood why mice develop paralysis in an infection that involves sensory ne...

Visceral dissemination of varicella zoster virus (VZV) may follow cutaneous infection in immunocompromized patients (e.g. bone marrow transplant recipients) [1]. However, involvement of the upper gastrointestinal tract is rare [1–4]. An 81-year-old man underwent upper endoscopy for heartburn, nausea, and vomiting. There was no prior history of clinically overt immunodeficiency. Endoscopy reveal...

UNLABELLED The introduction of West Nile virus (WNV) into North America in 1999 is a classic example of viral emergence in a new environment, with its subsequent dispersion across the continent having a major impact on local bird populations. Despite the importance of this epizootic, the pattern, dynamics, and determinants of WNV spread in its natural hosts remain uncertain. In particular, it i...

INTRODUCTION ........................................ 169 HISTORY ........................................ 170 CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE .................................. 170 PROPERTIES OF VIRUSES ......... .......................... 170 Isolations and serological relationships ................................... 170 Morphology ........................................ 171 Physical and ch...