Herpes Simplex

Herpes Simplex

	Herpes Simplex Herpes simplex is a collection of diseases. It may occur as cold sores in the mouth, eczema of skin, encephalitis in new-borns, or urinogenital infections in adults. The virus is also linked with human tumors. There are two major types of herpes simplex virus: Type I, designated as HSV-l, infecting usually areas above the waist, whereas Type-2, HSV-2, often found below waist. Both are large DNA viruses with icosahedral symmetry and envelopes with spikes The particles have a diameter from 180 nm to 200 nm.
The DNA protein core consists of double standed DNA wrapped around an associated protein, as one the spindle of a spool. The envelope contains a number of glycoproteins, the capsid is composed of 162 elongated hexagonal prisms, the capsomeres and at least four unique proteins; and the so called integument consists of about eight distinct polypeptides. The viruses mutliply rapidly in the nucleus of infected cells fanning inclusions called Lipshutz bodies, an aid in viral diagnosis. The virus remains for a long period of time in the body causing recurrent infections inspite of the presence of antibodies. The Greek word herpes means to creep, indicating the spreading nature of disease. In adults, herpes simplex infections appear as closely grouped, thin walled vesicles, or cold sores which occur repeatedly in the same general area of skin or mouth. In children, the disease manifests itself as cold sores or as a more serious condition, gingivostomatitis. Type I herpes simplex virus also induces a type of nonepidemic encephalitis in children.
Viral multiplication in the brain tissue leads to lesion formation. Transmission occurs by several means including contact with saliva or contaminated utensils. Adults commonly suffer a genital form of herpes simplex caused by HSV -2, and lesions develop on external genital organs of the male , and internally along the vaginal wall and cervix in females. In this case transmission is by sexual contact. The child borne by infected female may develop herpes encephalitis as the virus is transmitted from the vaginal fluids. In recent years, the acronym.
TORCH has been coined for diseases with congenital significance - T for toxoplasmosis; R for rubella; C for cytomegalovirus infection and H for herpes simplex. The 0 represents other diseases. HSV 2 is found to be associated with cervical tumors. A nucleic acid analog, iododeoxyuridine (IDU), replacing thymine in PNA of the virus and produces a nonsense viral genome. This is applied topically (Q reduce side effects and used for herpes simplex infections of skin as eye lesions and cold sores. Adenine arabinoside (Area-A) also known as Vidavabine (Viva-A) is also applied as topical ointment. Acyclovir (Zovirax) was licenced in 1982 for against all herpes viruses especially for genital simplex. The herpes virus is one of the most common viruses in the environment

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