18^th International Virology Summit

Herpes Simplex Virus

Herpes simplex virus belongs to herpesvirus family. Herpes simplex virus is classified into 2 types: namely HSV-1 and HSV-2. This virus causes incurable disease herpes. HSV-1 is commonly known for cold sores whereas HSV-2 for genital herpes. Herpes simplex virus cannot be eradicated totally from the infected living being but can be treated to some extent partially. Symptoms of herpes simplex virus infection include watery blisters in the skin or mucous membranes of the mouth, lips, nose, or genitals. As neurotropic and neuroinvasive viruses, HSV-1 and -2 persist in the body by becoming latent and hiding from the immune system in the cell bodies of neurons. After the initial or primary infection, some infected people experience sporadic episodes of viral reactivation or outbreaks. In an outbreak, the virus in a nerve cell becomes active and is transported via the neuron's axon to the skin, where virus replication and shedding occur and cause new sores. It is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections.