Inhibiting key protein halts herpes lytic cycle: Microbe World

Epigenetic controls like histone modification and chromatin remodeling play important regulatory roles in all cellular processes requiring access to the genome. So when a herpes simplex virus or varicella-zoster virus infects a human cell, one of the first things it does is attack the cell’s epigenetic modifications so it can gain access to the chromosome. Once these epigenetic controls are down, the lytic process can begin. In mBio this week, scientists from NIAID and elsewhere found a way to suppress the herpes virus’ ability to alter these epigenetic controls.