# Varicella-Zoster Virus: T Cell/Skin Tropisms & Immunity

> **NIH NIH R01** · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $393,759

## Abstract

Varicella-zoster virus is an alpha-herpesvirus that causes varicella and zoster. Infection of T cells allows
 VZV transfer from the respiratory tract to skin and the typical herpes zoster rash results from axonal
transport after VZV reactivation in neurons. Our research program investigates the mechanisms of VZV
 take-over of its target cells, focusing on infection of primary human tonsil T cells and adult skin xenografts
 in the severe combined immunodeficiency (SCIO) mouse model. We plan to pursue our longstanding
 objective to understand of VZV pathogenesis in new directions that are designed to determine the role of
 activation of protein kinase R in VZV infection, the effects of complement as an innate defense against
 VZV infection of tonsil T cells and VZV countermeasures, and glycoprotein-mediated mechanisms of VZV
entry into T cells. This work is expected to provide new knowledge about the takeover of host cell
signaling pathways by VZV to support its replication, the regulation of VZV pathogenesis by innate host
responses and how VZV overcomes these barriers, and the functions of VZV glycoproteins during
 infection of differentiated human cells, all of which are critical for VZV infection of the human host.
RELEVANCE (See instructions):

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10318076
- **Project number:** 5R01AI020459-38
- **Recipient organization:** STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Stefan Lyne Oliver
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $393,759
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1994-08-01 → 2024-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10318076

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10318076, Varicella-Zoster Virus: T Cell/Skin Tropisms & Immunity (5R01AI020459-38). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10318076. Licensed CC0.

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