The field of neurovirology was formed within the past 30 years. Johnson, R (1995). "Neurovirology: evolution of a new discipline", Journal of Neurovirology, 1(2). It was founded upon the discovery that a large number of viruses are capable of invading and establishing latent infections in nervous tissue. Such viruses have been shown to produce slow, chronic, or progressive nervous system diseases.McKendall, R and Stroop, W (1994). "Handbook of Neurovirology". (v). Neurovirology incorporates the related fields of virology, neuroscience, neurology, immunology, and molecular biology. The main focus of the field is to study the molecular and biological basis of virus induced diseases of the nervous system. In addition to this, the field studies the use of these viruses as tracers of neuroanatomical pathways and as vectors for gene therapy. Neurovirology only became an official field within the past 30 years. Johnson, R (1995). "Neurovirology: evolution of a new discipline", Journal of Neurovirology, 1(2). However, the true origin of neurovirology can be accredited to the discovery that some viruses may have an affinity for nervous system tissue. This discovery was made in the late 1880s with research involving rabies.Gosztonyi, G (2001). The Mechanisms of Neuronal Damage in Virus Infections of the Nervous System. (1). In 1929 Heinrich Pette established the first classification criteria for inflammatory diseases of the nervous system. This classification separated the diseases into two groups: gray matter acute and white matter acute inflammatory diseases. Gray matter acute inflammatory diseases were characterized by damage to neurons with myelin remaining intact. White matter acute inflammatory diseases were characterized by destruction of the myelin, with neurons remaining intact. Gosztonyi, G (2001). The Mechanisms of Neuronal Damage in Virus Infections of the Nervous System. (4). In 1938, Sbin and Olitsky discovered that the distribution of the virus within the body depended on its mechanism of entry. Gosztonyi, G (2001). The Mechanisms of Neuronal Damage in Virus Infections of the Nervous System. (6). In 1965, ZuRhein and Chou established that destruction of myelin could result from primary virus infection, not only from autoimmune response to the virus. Gosztonyi, G (2001). The Mechanisms of Neuronal Damage in Virus Infections of the Nervous System. (8). Most of the research of which the field of neurovirology is based upon occurred in the late 1980s and the 1900s. Gosztonyi, G (2001). The Mechanisms of Neuronal Damage in Virus Infections of the Nervous System. (10). Beginning in 1999 the International Society of Neurovirology has recognized and awarded individuals who have contributed significantly to the field with the Pioneer in NeuroVirology URL Herpesviruses Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) Evidence may support link between virus and Alzheimer's disease, intractable focal epilepsy, and acute disseminated encephalomyelitisNath A, Berger J (2003). Clinical Neurovirology. 119. Infection can produce myelitis and encephalitisMcKendall, R and Stroop, W (1994). "Handbook of Neurovirology".(7). Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) Infection can produce myelitis and encephalitis Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection is associated with Guillain–Barré syndrome Is the most common viral cause of childhood mental retardation Is linked to neurological abnormalities, such as: microencephaly, seizures, hypotomia, and sensorineural hearing lossMcKendall, R and Stroop, W (1994). "Handbook of Neurovirology". Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) Is associated with neurological complications such as: meningoencephalitis, myelitis, cerebellar ataxia, Reye's syndrome, cranial neuropatheis, and postinfectious disseminated encephalomyelitisMueller N, Gilden D, Cohrs R, (2008). "Varicella Zoster Virus Infection: Clinical Features, Molecular Pathogenesis of Disease, and Latency". Neurologic Clinics. 26(675). Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) Is associated with Guillain–Barré syndrome, cranial mononeuropathies, focal encephalitis, and myelitis Is considered the leading viral candidate for causing Multiple SclerosisLincoln J, Hankiewicz K (2008). "Could Epstein-Barr Virus or Canine Distemper Virus Cause Multiple Sclerosis?". Neurologic Clinics 26(699). Human herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6) and Human herpesvirus type 7 (HHV-7) Have not been linked to human nervous system disease Polyomaviruses JC virus (JCV) Is associated with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy and demyelinationMcKendall, R and Stroop, W (1994). "Handbook of Neurovirology".(343). Rhabdoviruses Rabies Virus Gives rise to neuronal dysfunctionJackson A. (2008) "Rabies". Neurologic Clinics. 26(717). Paramyxoviruses Measles virus Is a major cause of neurological deficitsNath A, Berger J (2003). Clinical Neurovirology. 401. Mumps virus Is the leading cause of virus induced aseptic meningitis and encephalitisNath A, Berger J (2003). Clinical Neurovirology. 1431. Retroviruses Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Is associated with cognitive dysfunction There are two main ways that a virus is thought to enter the brain via hematogenous spread. The first is by infecting an immune cell, which then carries the virus to the nervous tissue. Viral examples of this include the JC virus which infects B cells and HIV which infects CD4 T cells and macrophages to infiltrate the brain. The second is by crossing the blood capillaries as a free virus or in leukocytes. Nath A, Berger J (2003). Clinical Neurovirology. 23. Neurons lack molecules necessary to present viral peptides on the surface to killer cells, which means they provide a safe house for viruses to replicate. Once viruses get in neurons they can persist for the hosts lifetime and can influence the factors that disturb the function of neurons and the homeostasis of the nervous system, leading to nervous system diseases. Nath A, Berger J (2003). Clinical Neurovirology. 26. In recent years, due to the development of less invasive diagnosis techniques, brain biopsies are no longer frequently used for diagnosing viral infections of the nervous system. Nath A, Berger J (2003). Clinical Neurovirology. 35. However, some viral infections of the CNS cannot be diagnosed without histological and electron microscopic evidence. In these cases, brain biopsies are only performed when the patient has a serious neurological illness and is in need of immediate therapy, an alternative procedure will not lead to a specific diagnosis, and the information gained by the brain biopsy will outweigh the risks. The use of antiviral treatment with both Multiple Sclerosis and AIDS dementia has proven ineffective as a treatment. In patients with Multiple Sclerosis, antiviral treatment of EBV with Acyclovir showed no significant difference from the placebo. Lincoln J, Hankiewicz K (2008). "Could Epstein-Barr Virus or Canine Distemper Virus Cause Multiple Sclerosis?". Neurologic Clinics 26(699). In patients with AIDS dementia, despite antiretroviral therapy, CNS function remains diminished.Ferris M, Mactutus C, Booze R (2008). "Neurotoxic profiles of HIV, psychostimulant drugs of abuse, and their concerted effect on the brain: Current status of dopamine system vulnerability in NeuroAIDS". Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 32(883). HSV-1 is a promising gene therapy agent, which could be used for gene delivery to neurons. This therapy may be used to treat metabolic brain diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, or to help enhance repair of brain tissue in neurological diseases. Nath A, Berger J (2003). Clinical Neurovirology. 121. New viruses and viral infections of the nervous system will continue to emerge and the field of neurovirology must constantly expand to meet these growing needs. Nath A, Berger J (2003). Clinical Neurovirology. v. While the interest in researching viruses that infect the nervous system has increased dramatically over the past 40 years, there are three key components vital for the continued advancement of the field:    External links International Society for NeuroVirology (ISNV) Pan-American Society for NeuroVirology %DIFDELCMD < %DIFDELCMD < %%% See also Neurology Virology Neuroimmunology%DIFDELCMD < %DIFDELCMD < %%% References
The field of neurovirology was formed within the past 30 years. It was founded upon the discovery that a large number of viruses are capable of invading and establishing latent infections in nervous tissue. Such viruses have been shown to produce slow, chronic, or progressive nervous system diseases.McKendall, R and Stroop, W (1994). "Handbook of Neurovirology". Neurovirology incorporates the related fields of virology, neuroscience, neurology, immunology, and molecular biology. The main focus of the field is to study the molecular and biological basis of virus induced diseases of the nervous system. In addition to this, the field studies the use of these viruses as tracers of neuroanatomical pathways and as vectors for gene therapy. Neurovirology only became an official field within the past 30 years. However, the true origin of neurovirology can be accredited to the discovery that some viruses may have an affinity for nervous system tissue. This discovery was made in the late 1880s with research involving rabies.Gosztonyi, G (2001). The Mechanisms of Neuronal Damage in Virus Infections of the Nervous System. In 1929 Heinrich Pette established the first classification criteria for inflammatory diseases of the nervous system. This classification separated the diseases into two groups: gray matter acute and white matter acute inflammatory diseases. Gray matter acute inflammatory diseases were characterized by damage to neurons with myelin remaining intact. White matter acute inflammatory diseases were characterized by destruction of the myelin, with neurons remaining intact. In 1938, Sbin and Olitsky discovered that the distribution of the virus within the body depended on its mechanism of entry. In 1965, ZuRhein and Chou established that destruction of myelin could result from primary virus infection, not only from autoimmune response to the virus. Most of the research of which the field of neurovirology is based upon occurred in the late 1980s and the 1900s. Beginning in 1999 the International Society of Neurovirology has recognized and awarded individuals who have contributed significantly to the field with the Pioneer in NeuroVirology Award. Herpesviruses Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) Evidence may support link between virus and Alzheimer's disease, intractable focal epilepsy, and acute disseminated encephalomyelitisNath A, Berger J (2003). Clinical Neurovirology. Infection can produce myelitis and encephalitis Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) Infection can produce myelitis and encephalitis Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection is associated with Guillain–Barré syndrome Is the most common viral cause of childhood mental retardation Is linked to neurological abnormalities, such as: microencephaly, seizures, hypotomia, and sensorineural hearing loss Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) Is associated with neurological complications such as: meningoencephalitis, myelitis, cerebellar ataxia, Reye's syndrome, cranial neuropatheis, and postinfectious disseminated encephalomyelitisMueller N, Gilden D, Cohrs R, (2008). "Varicella Zoster Virus Infection: Clinical Features, Molecular Pathogenesis of Disease, and Latency". Neurologic Clinics. 26(675). Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) Is associated with Guillain–Barré syndrome, cranial mononeuropathies, focal encephalitis, and myelitis Is considered the leading viral candidate for causing Multiple SclerosisLincoln J, Hankiewicz K (2008). "Could Epstein-Barr Virus or Canine Distemper Virus Cause Multiple Sclerosis?". Neurologic Clinics 26(699). Human herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6) and Human herpesvirus type 7 (HHV-7) Have not been linked to human nervous system disease Polyomaviruses JC virus (JCV) Is associated with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy and demyelination Rhabdoviruses Rabies virus Gives rise to neuronal dysfunctionJackson A. (2008) "Rabies". Neurologic Clinics. 26(717). Paramyxoviruses Measles virus Is a major cause of neurological deficits Mumps virus Is the leading cause of virus induced aseptic meningitis and encephalitis Retroviruses Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Is associated with cognitive dysfunction There are two main ways that a virus is thought to enter the brain via hematogenous spread. The first is by infecting an immune cell, which then carries the virus to the nervous tissue. Viral examples of this include the JC virus which infects B cells and HIV which infects CD4 T cells and macrophages to infiltrate the brain. The second is by crossing the blood capillaries as a free virus or in leukocytes. Neurons lack molecules necessary to present viral peptides on the surface to killer cells, which means they provide a safe house for viruses to replicate. Once viruses get in neurons they can persist for the hosts lifetime and can influence the factors that disturb the function of neurons and the homeostasis of the nervous system, leading to nervous system diseases. In recent years, due to the development of less invasive diagnosis techniques, brain biopsies are no longer frequently used for diagnosing viral infections of the nervous system. However, some viral infections of the CNS cannot be diagnosed without histological and electron microscopic evidence. In these cases, brain biopsies are only performed when the patient has a serious neurological illness and is in need of immediate therapy, an alternative procedure will not lead to a specific diagnosis, and the information gained by the brain biopsy will outweigh the risks. The use of antiviral treatment with both Multiple Sclerosis and AIDS dementia has proven ineffective as a treatment. In patients with Multiple Sclerosis, antiviral treatment of EBV with Acyclovir showed no significant difference from the placebo. In patients with AIDS dementia, despite antiretroviral therapy, CNS function remains diminished.Ferris M, Mactutus C, Booze R (2008). "Neurotoxic profiles of HIV, psychostimulant drugs of abuse, and their concerted effect on the brain: Current status of dopamine system vulnerability in NeuroAIDS". Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 32(883). HSV-1 is a promising gene therapy agent, which could be used for gene delivery to neurons. This therapy may be used to treat metabolic brain diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, or to help enhance repair of brain tissue in neurological diseases. New viruses and viral infections of the nervous system will continue to emerge and the field of neurovirology must constantly expand to meet these growing needs. While the interest in researching viruses that infect the nervous system has increased dramatically over the past 40 years, there are three key components vital for the continued advancement of the field: See also Neuroimmunology Neurology Virology References External links International Society for NeuroVirology (ISNV) Pan-American Society for NeuroVirology %DIFDELCMD < %DIFDELCMD < %%% %DIFDELCMD < %DIFDELCMD < %%% 
D
Johnson, R (1995). "Neurovirology: evolution of a new discipline", Journal of Neurovirology, 1(2).
D
(v).
D
Johnson, R (1995). "Neurovirology: evolution of a new discipline", Journal of Neurovirology, 1(2).
D
(1).
D
Gosztonyi, G (2001). The Mechanisms of Neuronal Damage in Virus Infections of the Nervous System. (4).
D
Gosztonyi, G (2001). The Mechanisms of Neuronal Damage in Virus Infections of the Nervous System. (6).
D
Gosztonyi, G (2001). The Mechanisms of Neuronal Damage in Virus Infections of the Nervous System. (8).
D
Gosztonyi, G (2001). The Mechanisms of Neuronal Damage in Virus Infections of the Nervous System. (10).
R
URL
Award.
D
119.
R
encephalitisMcKendall, R and Stroop, W (1994). "Handbook of Neurovirology".(7).
encephalitis
R
lossMcKendall, R and Stroop, W (1994). "Handbook of Neurovirology".
loss
R
demyelinationMcKendall, R and Stroop, W (1994). "Handbook of Neurovirology".(343).
demyelination
R
Virus
virus
R
deficitsNath A, Berger J (2003). Clinical Neurovirology. 401.
deficits
R
encephalitisNath A, Berger J (2003). Clinical Neurovirology. 1431.
encephalitis
R
Immunodeficiency Virus
immunodeficiency virus
D
Nath A, Berger J (2003). Clinical Neurovirology. 23.
D
Nath A, Berger J (2003). Clinical Neurovirology. 26.
D
Nath A, Berger J (2003). Clinical Neurovirology. 35.
D
Lincoln J, Hankiewicz K (2008). "Could Epstein-Barr Virus or Canine Distemper Virus Cause Multiple Sclerosis?". Neurologic Clinics 26(699).
D
Nath A, Berger J (2003). Clinical Neurovirology. 121.
D
Nath A, Berger J (2003). Clinical Neurovirology. v.
A
See also
A
Neuroimmunology Neurology Virology
A
References
D
See also
D
Neurology Virology Neuroimmunology
D
References