Fig. 4.

Proposed model of latent HSV-1 infection in human TG. (A) In the majority of latently HSV-1-infected neurons miRNA levels and cellular mechanisms are sufficient to block the virus from reactivation. (B) In a small percentage of latently infected neurons, the equilibrium is shifted toward viral gene production, and immediate-early proteins get translated. The CD8⁺ T cells infiltrate and keep the virus in the latent state. (C) The T cells surrounding LAT⁻ neurons may be attracted by as-yet-unknown factors (former HSV-1 reactivations, a different virus, or nonspecific by the inflammatory milieu).