the cause of VZV reactivation. Before flight, all samples from the experimental subjects were
negative for VZV DNA, during flight VZV DNA was detected in 87% of the astronauts; following
return to Earth VZV DNA was detected in only 19% of the astronauts tested. During this same
time frame, no VZV DNA was detected from the control subjects. In conclusion, both VZV and
EBV can reactivate during stressful situations such as spaceflight (Mehta 2004, Pierson 2005).
PUBLICATION(S)
Pierson DL, Stowe RP, Phillips TM, Lugg DJ, Mehta SK. Epstein-
Barr virus shedding by astronauts during spaceflight. Brain,
Behavior, and Immunity. 2005;19(3):235-242. doi:
10.1016/j.bbi.2004.08.001.Stowe RP, Phillips TM, Lugg DJ, Pierson DL, Mehta SK. Epstein-
Barr virus shedding by astronauts during spaceflight. Brain,
Behavior, and Immunity. 2005;19(3):235-242. doi:
10.1016/j.bbi.2004.08.001.Mehta SK, Cohrs RJ, Forghani B, Zerbe G, Gilden DH. Stress-
induced subclinical reactivation of varicella zoster virus in
astronauts. Journal of Medical Virology. 2004;72:174-179.
doi: 10.1002/jmv.10555.PATENT(S)
Harding RE, Cohrs RJ, Gilden DH, Pierson DL, Mehta SK, inventors; Methods for the diagnosis of
Varicella Zoster Virus Infection. United States Patent and Trademark Office 20110262895.
October 27, 2011.
This investigation is complete and all results are published.
Transmission electron micrograph
of varicella-zoster virions. Center
for Disease Control and Prevention
image, Atlanta, Georgia.