Herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA sequences which direct spread of virus from cornea to central nervous system.

The virulence of a herpes simplex virus (HSV) intertypic recombinant possessing HSV-1 DNA sequences from map units 0.31 to 0.44 and HSV-2 sequences from map units 0 to 0.30 and 0.45 to 1.0 were compared with the virulence of the two parental strains. Following ocular inoculation, both the intertypic recombinant and the HSV-1 parent replicated at the infection site and spread to the peripheral and central nervous system (CNS) to produce fatal encephalitis. The HSV-2 parent also replicated at the infection site but failed to progress to the CNS. However, when inoculated intracerebrally, the HSV-2 strain was as lethal as the HSV-1 parent. Furthermore, the HSV-2 strain could produce thymidine kinase at 37 and 39 degrees in levels comparable to the HSV-1 strain. The results indicate that transfer of the HSV-1 DNA sequences imparted to the recombinant virus the necessary genetic information to spread from the cornea into the central nervous system.