Defining key mechanisms that underpin neuropathogenesis of varicella zoster virus during herpes zoster

水痘带状疱疹病毒（VZV）是一种引起水痘和带状疱疹的疱疹病毒。带状疱疹影响许多老年人，主要并发症是长期严重的神经性疼痛，通常需要数月至数年的后续医疗护理。尽管它对社区有影响，但人们对这种病毒的功能和致病机制知之甚少。我们的目标是提高我们对VZV如何与神经细胞相互作用的理解，为带状疱疹和相关神经性疼痛的有效治疗提供必要的新信息。

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a herpesvirus which causes chicken pox and shingles. Shingles affects many elderly people and a major complication is prolonged severe neuropathic pain, often needing follow-up medical care for months to years. Despite its impact on the community, little is known about how this virus functions and causes disease. We aim to improve our understanding of how VZV interacts with nerve cells to provide essential new information for the development of effective treatments for shingles and associated neuropathic pain.