VIRUS INFECTIONS IN THE EYE

我们对各种病毒学和免疫病理学过程的研究， 当病毒和寄生虫在眼部复制时发生 微环境由五个方面组成：（1）病毒诱导的视网膜 退化过程，（2）病毒在人类中的可能作用 巨细胞病毒的分子诊断和发病机制 (CMV)（4）水痘-带状疱疹病毒（VZV） 感染的视网膜，和（5）弓形虫感染的视网膜 视网膜。 我们已经确定，鼠冠状病毒可以诱导眼部疾病 并且可以用作研究视网膜变性的模型系统 疾病这种型号有许多独特的特点。病毒能够 在存在轻度视网膜血管病变的情况下诱发急性感染 炎症最初的视网膜损伤后， 感染性病毒和进行性视网膜变性。视网膜 这种疾病的退化阶段具有持续的病毒成分， 免疫成分和遗传成分。的研究 视网膜变性的免疫学成分表明， 病毒RNA和病毒蛋白定位于（细胞视网膜色素 上皮（RPE）和睫状体上皮细胞）被激活 表达主要组织相容性复合体（MHC）分子， 粘附分子这些数据表明， 可以在这个地方开始。 这种疾病可以被认为是退行性疾病的模型。 人类的色素上皮和感光细胞。 人巨细胞病毒（CMV）是一种疱疹病毒，是导致 先天性感染儿童失明， 免疫力低下的人。研究CMV潜伏期是困难的， 伙计因此，CMV复制和潜伏期的细胞培养模型可以 为替代治疗方式提供依据。 我们确定CMV在人RPE细胞中复制。但 在RPE细胞中病毒复制有许多明显的差异 与人类成纤维细胞相比。这些可能是关键变量， 视网膜内的病毒持续存在和病毒激活。

Our studies of various virologic and immunopathologic processes that occur when viruses and parasites replicate in the ocular microenvironment make up five areas: (1) virus-induced retinal degenerative processes, (2) the possible roles of viruses in human diseases, (3) molecular diagnosis and pathogenesis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in humans, (4) varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infections of the retina, and (5) Toxoplasma gondii infections of the retina. We have established that murine coronavirus can induce ocular disease and may be used as a model system for studying retinal degenerative diseases. This model has many unique features. The virus is capable of inducing an acute infection in the presence of mild retinal vascular inflammation. Initial retinal damage is followed by clearance of infectious virus and progressive retinal degeneration. The retinal degenerative phase of this disease has a persistent virus component, an immune component, and a genetic component. Studies on the immunologic component of retinal degeneration demonstrate that the viral RNA and viral proteins are localized in (cells retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and ciliary body epithelial cells) that are activated to express major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules and adhesion molecules. These data suggest that the autoimmune reactivity may be initiated at this site. This disease may be considered a model for degenerative diseases of the pigment epithelium and photoreceptors in humans. Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a herpesvirus that is a major cause of blindness in children born with congenital infections and in immunocompromised individuals. It is difficult to study CMV latency in man. Therefore, cell culture models of CMV replication and latency may provide insight into a rationale for alternative treatment modalities. We identified that CMV replicates in human RPE cells. However, there are a number of distinct differences in virus replication in RPE cells in comparison to human fibroblasts. These may be critical variables in viral persistence and viral activation within the retina.