A typical characteristic of alphaherpesviruses is their ability to establish lifelong dormant infection sin neurons of their host, so-called latency. Specific stress stimuli may lead to reactivation from latency, with rnewed spread within and between hosts and recurrent disease symptoms. Despite the pathogenic importance of alphaherpesvirus latency and reactivation, relatively little is known about the underlying mechanisms, partly because of the lack of a physiologically relevant in vitro model. The aim of the current project is to establish a fysiologically relevant in vitro model of alphaherpesvirus latency, based on the porcine pseudorabies virus.