New article: New research shows the understanding of Herpesvirus infection read more at here http://www.spinonews.com/index.php/medical-news/item/3297-new-research-shows-the-understanding-of-herpesvirus-infection

Herpes simplex virus (HSV), once the virus infected it can remain asleep for years before periodically reactivating to cause recurrent disease. The infections of this virus last a life time.

Now, National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists have identified a protein complexes that are recruited to viral genes and stimulate both initial infection and reactivation from latency. 

According to WHO, one-half billion people are infected with HSV-2 while two-thirds of the population are infected with HSV-1. HSV viruses cause human diseases ranging from oral cold sores to genital lesions to serious eye conditions that can lead to blindness. In babies, the virus can cause neurological and developmental problems.

 

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Scientists at NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases previously made progress toward understanding the role of cellular protein HCF-1 in initiating HSV infection and reactivation.

HCF-1 and related proteins are recruited to the viral genome to enable the virus to replicate and spread. The previous work identified targets for the development of therapeutics to suppress infection and reactivation.

The latest study identifies new HCF-1 protein complexes that play additional roles in initiating viral infection and reactivation. Scientists found they could reactivate latent HSV in a mouse model using compounds that turn on components of these HCF-1 protein complexes.

 

Surprisingly, some of HCF-1-associated proteins also are involved in HIV reactivation from latency. The researchers are continuing to investigate the protein complexes involved in promoting HSV gene expression, infection, and reactivation from latency. 

More information: [Cell Host & Microbe]