University of Colorado School of Medicine | Department of Neurology | Assistant Professor
Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus - Neuroscience/Neurovirology
Ph.D., University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus - Neuroscience
M.S., University of South Dakota - Neuroscience
B.S., University of South Dakota
Date: March 21st
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location: Denver Campus – North Classroom, Room 3207
Beyond the Skin: The Role of Varicella Zoster Virus in Neurological Diseases
The varicella zoster virus (VZV) infects over 95% of the global population. Following primary infection, it causes chickenpox, after which the virus establishes lifelong latency in neuronal ganglia. Under conditions such as normal aging or immunosuppressive events (e.g., medications, stress), the virus can reactivate, leading to the painful skin rash known as shingles (zoster). While VZV is primarily recognized as a dermatological pathogen, its involvement in severe neurological diseases is becoming increasingly acknowledged. In particular, large-scale epidemiological studies now suggest that VZV reactivation may significantly contribute to the development of vascular dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and stroke. One major challenge in establishing a causative role for VZV in these conditions has been the lack of detectable infectious virions in the affected tissues. However, recent research from my lab has identified a mechanism by which VZV-induced exosomes contribute to multiple neurological diseases. Importantly, these exosomes are non-infectious but still pathogenic, which may explain the absence of virions in the observed diseased tissues. This talk will explore these mechanisms within the context of the evolutionary arms race between the host and the virus and discuss potential therapeutic strategies.
