Herpes simplex viruses

Herpes simplex viruses are enveloped DNA viruses that cause primary infections with episodic reactivation due to latency within the sensory ganglia. Disease manifestations vary with patient age, immune system status, and antecedent triggering factors, causing a range of human diseases from asymptomatic shedding to multisystem disease with widespread mucocutaneous lesions and meningoencephalitis. HSV envelope glycoproteins are key factors that facilitate binding, fusion, and entry into host cells. Latency-associated transcripts mediate neuronal cell survival and inhibition of apoptosis while maintaining HSV DNA in a lysogenized state. HSV diagnosis involves a repertoire of laboratory techniques, including serology, culture, fluorescent antibody staining of viral antigens, and most recently, nucleic acid amplification testing. Vaccine strategies that exploit the importance of HSV surface glycoproteins have had marginal success to-date but remain under active investigation.