GC and infection: Similar to MDV, gC homologues for herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) appear to play a minor role in tissue culture model systems but are critical for HSV-1 and VZV replication in human skin cells using the SCID-hu mouse model14 suggesting gC homologs may perform conserved functions during natural infection of the host.