Figure 1. Plucking is sufficient to induce HSV-1 recurrent skin lesions.

A-D. C57BL/6 mice were depilated by plucking one day prior to infection then inoculated on the flank skin with 1 × 10⁶ FFU of HSV-1 strain NS. 35 days later, mice were replucked and recurrent skin lesions were evaluated. A. Representative photos of the same mouse during acute disease (6 dpi), immediately post-replucking (R0), and 2 days post-replucking (R2). B. Paired lesion areas of mice during acute infection, 2 days post-replucking, and 6 days post-replucking. C-D. Viral loads in dermatome skin post-replucking were measured by qPCR; dotted line indicates limit of detection. E-H. C57BL/6 mice were depilated by plucking one day prior to infection then inoculated on the flank skin with 1 × 10⁶ FFU of HSV-1 strain NS. Hairless (SKH-1) mice were inoculated with 5 × 10⁴ FFU. 35 days later dermatome skin lesions on the ipsilateral flank were evaluated after: replucking the ipsilateral flank; shaving the ipsilateral flank; replucking the contralateral flank (plus shaving the ipsilateral flank); or tape stripping the ipsilateral flank. E. Representative photos of the same mouse during acute disease (6 dpi) and 2 days post-replucking (R2). F-G. Incidence and area of recurrent lesions 2 days after stimulation. H. Viral loads in dermatome skin 2 days after stimulation were measured by qPCR.