**3.2. Herpes simplex virus (alphaherpesvirus)**

Infections by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and pseudorabies virus (PRV) lead to imbalances in the calcium homeostasis of host cells. A study on rodents indicated that this calcium imbalance leads to disruption of mitochondrial function in the cervical ganglion neurons [48]. An imbalance in the cellular calcium pool affects the Miro protein (a calciumbinding protein), altering its interaction with kinesin-1. Therefore, HSV-1 and PRV "hijack" host cell proteins, and this disrupts mitochondrial dynamics, thereby allowing the viruses to replicate and spread to neighboring cells.
