Alphaherpesvirinae subfamily members are widespread pathogens that cause a range of significant human and animal diseases, from mild mucocutaneous lesions to severe neurological and neonatal infections. Following primary infection of the craniofacial or genital mucosa, lytic replication occurs in epithelial cells, resulting in the production of infectious virus. Virus shed from infected epithelial cells inevitably encounters and enters sensory nerve termini innervating these tissues, after which