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J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 2022 Jun 25. Epub 2022 Jun 25.

Department of Pediatrics, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

Varicella is a highly contagious disease caused by Varicella-zoster virus (VZV). The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) adopted the routine administration of varicella vaccine to varicella non-immune mothers postpartum before leaving the facility per the Advisory Committee in Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation of Varicella prevention. While the vaccine is well-tolerated, a live attenuated vaccine has the potential to cause clinical symptoms and complications, including rash. Read More

Viruses 2022 Jun 9;14(6). Epub 2022 Jun 9.

Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK.

Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV) is a pathogenic human herpes virus that causes varicella ("chicken pox") as a primary infection, following which it becomes latent in neuronal cells in human peripheral ganglia. It may then reactivate to cause herpes zoster ("shingles"). Defining the pattern of VZV gene expression during latency is an important issue, and four highly expressed VZV genes were first identified by Randall Cohrs in 1996 using cDNA libraries. Read More

Viruses 2022 Jun 2;14(6). Epub 2022 Jun 2.

National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.

Herpes zoster (HZ) is caused by the reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV) from the sensory ganglia due to aging or immunosuppression. Glycoprotein E (gE) is a widely used vaccine antigen for specific humoral and cellular immune responses. Immediate early protein 63 (IE63) is expressed during latency, suggesting that it is a potential antigen against HZ reactivation. Read More

Viruses 2022 May 27;14(6). Epub 2022 May 27.

Division of Microbiology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University, Covington, LA 70433, USA.

Primary simian varicella virus (SVV) infection and reactivation in nonhuman primates is a valuable animal model in the study of varicella zoster virus disease [varicella (chickenpox) and herpes zoster (shingles)]. To understand SVV pathogenesis in skin, we inoculated 10 rhesus macaques with SVV, resulting in varicella rash. After the establishment of latency, eight of the monkeys were immunosuppressed using tacrolimus with or without irradiation and prednisone and two monkeys were not immunosuppressed. Read More

Vaccines (Basel) 2022 May 26;10(6). Epub 2022 May 26.

Department of Infectious Diseases, West German Centre of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University Essen-Duisburg, 45147 Essen, Germany.

Solid organ transplant recipients have an up to ninefold higher risk of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) reactivation than the general population. Due to lifelong immunosuppressive therapy, vaccination against VZV may be less effective in kidney transplant (KTX) recipients. In the current study, twelve female and 17 male KTX recipients were vaccinated twice with the adjuvanted, recombinant zoster vaccine Shingrix™, which contains the VZV glycoprotein E (gE). Read More

Andes Pediatr 2022 Apr;93(2):270-275

Hospital Universitario Francisco de Borja, Valencia, España.

Herpes Zoster (HZ) is rare in childhood and is defined as the reactivation of the latent varicella-zoster virus in patients who have previously been infected with varicella. When the virus affects the ophthal mic nerve it is called herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) and it can produce, among other symptoms, acute headache, so it must be considered as a differential diagnosis.

Objective: To describe a clinical case of HZO in a pediatric patient and to recognize its clinical manifestations and their importance in the differential diagnosis of acute headache in children. Read More

Front Pediatr 2022 6;10:876250. Epub 2022 Jun 6.

Laboratory of Dermatology, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China.

A family cluster of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infections was reported. Four family members (two children and their parents) continuously develop varicella after the grandmother's herpes zoster. The unvaccinated 16-month-old infant and his mother developed primary varicella with atypical clinical presentation; however, his 28-year-old father presented with a typical generalized vesicular rash. Read More

Recent Pat Nanotechnol 2022 Jun 22. Epub 2022 Jun 22.

Department of Pharmaceutics, SVKM NMIMS School of Pharmacy and Technology Management, Shirpur, Dhule, India.

Background: Herpes zoster is a viral infection triggered due to the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus in the posterior dorsal root ganglion. Herpes zoster infections occur mostly in the facial, cervical and thoracic region of the body beginning with pain and resulted in the vesicular eruption. Recently, this infection is observed during the Covid-19 pandemic and also after the induction of mRNA-based vaccine for coronavirus at an extended level. Read More

Ann Rheum Dis 2022 Jun 20. Epub 2022 Jun 20.

RITA, European Reference Networks, Brussels, Belgium.

Objectives: Recent insights supporting the safety of live-attenuated vaccines and novel studies on the immunogenicity of vaccinations in the era of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in paediatric patients with autoimmune/inflammatory rheumatic diseases (pedAIIRD) necessitated updating the EULAR recommendations.

Methods: Recommendations were developed using the EULAR standard operating procedures. Two international expert committees were formed to update the vaccination recommendations for both paediatric and adult patients with AIIRD. Read More

JAAD Int 2022 Sep 14;8:79-81. Epub 2022 Jun 14.

Department of Dermatology, Kansas City University - GME / ADCS Consortium, Maitland, Florida.

Front Immunol 2022 1;13:887892. Epub 2022 Jun 1.

Department of Pain Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.

Objectives: Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) can induce herpes zoster (HZ) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Immune cells play an important role in regulating HZ and PHN pathogenesis, but the dynamic immune profiles and molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to screen dynamic immune signatures during HZ progression and elucidate the mechanism of VZV-specific T cells in PHN. Read More

Arch Bronconeumol 2022 May 18. Epub 2022 May 18.

Servicio de Neumología, Hospital de Mataró - Consorci Sanitari del Maresme, Mataró, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address:

Beyoglu Eye J 2022 27;7(2):143-149. Epub 2022 May 27.

Department of Ophthalmology, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.

Either retinitis and occlusive vasculitis are rare but vision threatening ocular complications of chickenpox in children. In this case report a 13-year-old girl who developed chickenpox 2 days before complaining with visual loss in her right eye is presented. She was vaccinated one dose of varicella zoster virus (VZV) vaccine when she was 12 months old. Read More

J Infect Chemother 2022 Jun 9. Epub 2022 Jun 9.

Division of General Internal Medicine, Jichi Medical University Hospital, Tochigi, Japan; Division of Infectious Diseases, Jichi Medical University Hospital, Tochigi, Japan. Electronic address:

Background: Disseminated infections of Mycolicibacter arupensis, a slowly growing nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) which causes synovitis, osteomyelitis, or pulmonary infections have rarely been reported. We report a case of disseminated M. arupensis and Mycobacterium avium co-infection in a patient with anti-interferon (IFN)-γ neutralizing autoantibody-associated immunodeficiency syndrome. Read More

J Infect Public Health 2022 Jun 3;15(7):734-738. Epub 2022 Jun 3.

Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, the Republic of Korea.

Background: There have been occasional reports on varicella infection among healthcare workers (HCWs) despite varicella-zoster virus (VZV) seropositivity. We compared the levels of humoral and cellular immunity to VZV in seropositive HCWs who had acquired immunity by natural infection or vaccination.

Methods: Seropositive healthy HCWs with an apparent history of varicella or VZV vaccination once or twice were recruited. Read More

PLoS One 2022 10;17(6):e0269916. Epub 2022 Jun 10.

School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America.

Background: Our objective was to estimate the impact of universal varicella vaccination (UVV) on the use and costs of antibiotics and antivirals for the management of varicella among children in the United States (US).

Methods: A decision tree model of varicella vaccination, infections and treatment decisions was developed. Results were extrapolated to the 2017 population of 73. Read More

Zhonghua Xue Ye Xue Za Zhi 2022 May;43(5):427-430

Department of Hematology Oncology Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Infection and Immunity, Chongqing 400014, China.

Emerg Infect Dis 2022 Jul 9;28(7):1523-1524. Epub 2022 Jun 9.

Varicella zoster virus reactivation after COVID-19 vaccination has been reported in older or immunocompromised adults. We report zoster meningitis from live-attenuated varicella vaccine reactivation in an immunocompetent child after COVID-19 vaccination. This type of case is rare; COVID-19 and varicella vaccines remain safe and effective for appropriate recipients in the pediatric population. Read More

Neuroscience 2022 Jun 6;496:16-26. Epub 2022 Jun 6.

Dept Ophthalmology and of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, University of Pittsburg, 203 Lothrop, St. Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States. Electronic address:

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is responsible for chronic pain. VZV injection has similarities to herpes zoster (HZ) "shingles" pain in humans. In this study orofacial pain was induced by injecting male rats with the human VZV. Read More

An Bras Dermatol 2022 Jun 5. Epub 2022 Jun 5.

Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Ambulatório de Dermatologia Sanitária do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.

Wolf's isotopic phenomenon occurs when a new dermatosis appears on a site that has already healed from a previous dermatological disease of another etiology. This report describes the case of a 44-year-old female patient undergoing treatment for breast carcinoma who recently had brownish erythematous lesions appearing on the scar region of previous herpes zoster on the right hemithorax. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry examination confirmed skin metastasis of breast cancer. Read More

Neurology 2022 Jun 8. Epub 2022 Jun 8.

Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.

Background And Objectives: Herpes zoster is caused by reactivation of the neurotrophic varicella-zoster virus. Zoster may contribute to development of dementia through neuroinflammation, cerebral vasculopathy, or direct neural damage, but epidemiological evidence is limited. We used data from linked nationwide Danish registries to conduct a cohort study of the association between zoster and dementia during 1997 to 2017. Read More

Intern Med 2022 Jun 7. Epub 2022 Jun 7.

Departments of Neurology, Takamatsu Red Cross Hospital, Japan.

A 73-year-old Japanese man with diabetic complications presented with involuntary lip movements and long-lasting hiccups after developing zoster rash. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed lesions involving the medial temporal lobe and C1 level of the spinal cord. Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) encephalomyelitis was diagnosed. Read More

Mult Scler 2022 Jun 7:13524585221099413. Epub 2022 Jun 7.

Neurology & Immunology, Ares Trading S.A., Eysins, Switzerland (an affiliate of Merck KGaA).

Virol Sin 2022 Jun 6. Epub 2022 Jun 6.

Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China. Electronic address:

Latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV) may be reactivated to cause herpes zoster, which affects one in three people during their lifetime. The currently available subunit vaccine Shingrix is superior to the attenuated vaccine Zostavax® in terms of both safety and efficacy, but the supply of its key adjuvant component QS21 is limited. With Ionizable lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) that were recently approved by the FDA for COVID-19 mRNA vaccines as carriers, and oligodeoxynucleotides containing CpG motifs (CpG ODNs) approved by the FDA for a subunit hepatitis B vaccine as immunostimulators, we developed a LNP vaccine encapsulating VZV-glycoprotein E (gE) and CpG ODN, and compared its immunogenicity with Shingrix in C57BL/6J mice. Read More

EMBO J 2022 Jun 7:e109217. Epub 2022 Jun 7.

MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV) causes chickenpox and shingles. Although the infection is associated with severe morbidity in some individuals, molecular mechanisms that determine innate immune responses remain poorly defined. We found that the cGAS/STING DNA sensing pathway was required for type I interferon (IFN) induction during VZV infection and that recognition of VZV by cGAS restricted its replication. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2022 06 6;15(6). Epub 2022 Jun 6.

Department of Dermatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Am J Case Rep 2022 Jun 6;23:e936707. Epub 2022 Jun 6.

Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Ferrol, A Coruña, Spain.

BACKGROUND Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection can increase the risk of cerebrovascular disease, involving small and large arteries, especially in immunosuppressed patients with ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve involvement. We present the case of a patient with intracerebral VZV vasculopathy without overt clinical manifestation but with abnormal imaging findings in the brain magnetic resonance (MR). CASE REPORT A 59-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), without other traditional cardiovascular risk factors, presented to the hospital due to headache, vertical diplopia, decreased of visual acuity of right eye, and disseminated varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection with predominant skin lesions distributed along the ophthalmic division of the right trigeminal nerve. Read More

World J Clin Cases 2022 May;10(13):4220-4225

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing 314000, Zhejiang Province, China.

Background: Primary trigeminal neuralgia can achieve satisfactory results through clinical treatment and intervention. The pathogenesis of neuralgia caused by varicella-zoster virus infection of the trigeminal nerve is more complex, and it is still difficult to relieve the pain in some patients simply by drug treatment or surgical intervention.

Case Summary: A 66-year-old woman was hospitalized with herpetic neuralgia after herpes zoster ophthalmicus (varicella-zoster virus infects the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve). Read More

Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2022 Jun 31;78:103897. Epub 2022 May 31.

Department of Neurology, Larkin Community Hospital Palm Springs Campus, Hialeah, FL, United States.

Introduction: Vero Cell, AstraZeneca, Janssen, mRNA-1273 (Moderna), and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines have been authorized for emergency use in Nepal. These vacines have been linked to some adverse effects, including fever, myalgia, and headache. Furthermore Bell's Palsy a rare adverse effect was also reported to be associated with the use of mRNA-1273 (Moderna) vaccine in some patients. Read More

Vaccine 2022 Jun 31;40(29):3954-3962. Epub 2022 May 31.

Center for Observational and Real-World Evidence (CORE), Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Population-level infectious disease models for varicella require vaccine parameters, namely 'take' and 'duration of protection' (defined here as vaccine performance), to quantify the impact of vaccination. Current published models for varicella use vaccine parameters derived from various methodologies which does not allow for the direct comparison of different vaccines.

Methods: We estimated take and duration of protection using deterministic compartmental models to simulate clinical trials of one- or two-dose varicella vaccination using Varivax® (V-MSD) and Varilrix® (V-GSK). Read More