Five Questions about Viral Trafficking in Neurons 英文参考文献.docVIP

Pearls FiveQuestionsaboutViralTraffickinginNeurons L.W.Enquist* DepartmentofMolecularBiology,PrincetonUniversity,Princeton,NewJersey,UnitedStatesofAmerica WhyAreWeInterestedinThisSubject? maintaining their elaborate structures through the trafficking of alltheircellularconstituents.Theneuronalcellbodycontainsthe core cellular components and the nucleus with all the cellular RNA transcription machinery. These cells also have highly specialized extensions of their cell body cytoplasm called dendrites and axons (Figure 1). Dendrites can be branched (sometimes extensively), and make connections (synapses) with axons from other neurons. Axons are single extensions from the neuronalcellbodythatcoverlongdistancestoconnectwithother neuronsandcells.Axonscanbranchandcanbesolongthatthey contain the majority of neuronal cytoplasm [10]. They are the wiresofthenervoussystemliterallyconductingelectricalcurrents to and from the extremes of the body. These same conduits are utilized for the long distance spread of viral infection within the host organism. Oneofthemostexcitingareasinbiologyisthenervoussystem and how it works. Viral infections of the nervous system have providedexceptionalinsightatmanylevels,frompathogenesisto basicbiology.Thenervoussystemhasevolvedrathercomplicated barriers that facilitate access to nutrients and contact with the outside world, but block entry of pathogens and toxins [1]. However, when these barriers are reduced for any number of reasons,nervoussysteminfectionsarepossible.Whentheyoccur, they can be devastating and, even with good antiviral drugs, difficult to manage. Viral infections can enter the brain via the blood(e.g.,HIV,variousencephalitisviruses)orbyspreadinside neurons from the body surface (e.g., rabies and alpha herpes viruses) [2,3]. In vertebrates, the nervous system comprises a peripheral collection of neurons (the peripheral nervous system, PNS) and a central set found in the brain and spinal cord (the central nervoussystem, CNS).