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the_fungible_man t1_j7csiu8 wrote

The varicella zoster virus (VZV) can lie dormant in the dorsal root ganglia for decades after the immune system has cleared the virus from the rest of the body (from an initial chickenpox infection).

However, once reactivated, the VZV resumes replication and virions are transported through neural cells from the ganglia into the associated skin area. The subsequent immune response produces localized inflammation, blistering, and pain.

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crazy_eric t1_j7egph4 wrote

As a followup, how do we know that the cells are lying dormant in the dorsal root ganglia?

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