In epithelial cells, the heterodimer gE/gI is required for the cell-to-cell spread of the virus, by sorting nascent virions to cell junctions. Once the virus reaches the cell junctions, virus particles can spread to adjacent cells extremely rapidly through interactions with cellular receptors that accumulate at these junctions. Implicated in basolateral spread in polarized cells. In neuronal cells, gE/gI is essential for the anterograde spread of the infection throughout the host nervous system. Together with US9, the heterodimer gE/gI is involved in the sorting and transport of viral structural components toward axon tips.
