The history of herpes dates back to ancient Greece. The Greeks coined the term Herpes which means "creeping" and documented the description of the virus as sores appearing on the surface of people's skin. The Roman emperor Tiberius banned kissing during ceremonies to reduce the incidence of herpes in humans. It was until 1873 that Jean Baptiste Emile Vidal, a French doctor, confirmed that the virus could be transmitted from person to person. Characteristically, the herpes virus is a 200 nm double-stranded DNA virus that has an envelope and can only be transcribed. This envelope allows glycoproteins to carry out their functions such as binding to surface receptors and fusion. If the envelope is damaged, the virus is not contagious. A capsid surrounds the nucleus while the tegument, the space between the capsid and the envelope, carries proteins to help initiate replication. Since it is a larger virus than other double-stranded viruses such as polyomaviruses and papillomaviruses, the virus is capable of producing its own polymerase. During replication, glycoproteins attach to cell receptors, the envelope fuses, which then allows the nucleocapsid and proteins to enter, as well as DNA when the capsid releases nuclear membrane contact . From an infection point of view, the herpes virus is latent and recurrent. The Herpes virus belongs to the order Herpesvirales within the family Herpesviridae. There are a total of 103 species in the order (Louten, Jennifer). The Herpesviridae family is divided into subfamilies based on physiological and biological properties such as tropism, the variety of cells and tissues it can infect. The three subfamilies include: alphaherpesvirinae, betaherpesvirinae and gammaherpesvirinae. In alphaherpesvirinae, the cell's short reproductive cycle and neuronal cell latency cause skin lacerations. As for Betaherpesvirinae cells experience long reproductive cycles, latency occurs in immune cells such as lymphocytes and monocytes causing asymptomatic infections. Finally, in Gammaherpesvirinae, there is B cell latency leading to cancer. In total, there are 9 human herpesviruses known to infect humans. Example viruses for subfamilies will be discussed in detail later. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The herpes virus commonly known to the public is HSV1 and HSV2, the alpha viruses. With a linear genome, the virus has no end telomeres. Therefore, for protection and replication purposes, the virus uses the hairpin structure that splits at the end to create more linear ends. Cytopathic effects of HSV on animal cells include clumping of chromatin in the nucleus. The virus is also known to induce alterations in the citric acid cycle by promoting the conversion of aspartate to pyrimidines and purines, thereby creating more nucleic acids for its life cycle. Studies confirm that approximately two-thirds of the human population is infected with one or both types of herpes viruses. Crowded and unsanitary areas are most likely to have the highest rates of HSV infection. About 33% of children raised in low-income households are more prone to HSV-1 than children from middle-income households. Additionally, it is more likely that a man will transmit the infection to his female partner than the other way around (Wertheim, Joel). Common symptomsDisplayed by patients include cold sores around the mouth/lips or clusters (HSV1) or fluid blisters in the genital area that rupture over time (HSV2). In HSV2, the area showing lesions corresponds to the side of the affected lymph node. Other less common herpes-related disorders include lesions of the fingers/thumbs, ocular herpes, and herpes affecting the central nervous system. Herpes whitlow, lesions in the fingers/thumbs, occurs by self-inoculation. Herpes gladiatorum, lesions on the neck, arms and face, results from close contact sports (WebMD). As for Herpes simplex keratitis, the cornea of ​​the eye becomes infected. HSV1 can be transmitted by sharing objects such as utensils and toothbrushes or by infected people. For oral herpes, the primary infection is asymptomatic, but it can be symptomatic if it is severe. In cases of recurrent infection, HSV1 is classified as asymptomatic. Adults may experience pharyngitis, fever and headache. HSV2 is transmitted during sexual contact. The first flare-up is described as the most painful. HSV2 follows the same cycle of primary and recurrent infection as HSV1. The virus is not permanently active, which means that it will remain dormant in nerve cells until triggered by an event. Events that may cause recurring symptoms include a weakened immune system, stress, fatigue, trauma, menstruation, or illness. Statistically, in the United States alone, 50% of people have symptoms of HSV1 (herpes simplex type 1), while 15% have symptoms of HSV2 (herpes simplex type 2) (Luo, 2017). About 1 in 8 people have HSV2. In some patients, symptoms appear months or years later after exposure to the virus, but in others, they begin to appear after two days to two weeks. Patients with such symptoms have become infected during oral, vaginal or anal sex with an infected person. The virus will enter through the oral or genital mucosa and replicate in the squamous epithelium. So for this to happen, there must be abrasions in the labia minora and vagina for women or in the foreskin for men. This replication is carried out on the fibers of unmyelinated sensory neurons which then retrograde into the cell body of the dorsal root ganglion neuron. These abrasions or cracks provide access to the surface receptors of skin cells and even Langherans cells leading to infection. Dendritic cells and epidermal keratinocytes express HSV receptors. Endocytosis is one way in which epidermal keratinocytes are affected by HSV. Production of interferons and cytokines results from infection of epidermal keratinocytes and Langerhan cells. As noted previously, HSV will enter the endings of sensory neurons. Upon arrival, glycoproteins disassemble from the cell membrane due to cell membrane fusion. After the primary infection, comes a recurrent infection of the epithelial cells throughout life, in an anterograde manner. The virus cannot be transmitted through toilet seats, swimming pools, or cutlery, towels, or bedding (WebMD). To reduce your chances of contracting the virus, have a partner who has tested negative and use a latex condom during sex. If a person is in a relationship with an infected person, then they should be aware of the antiviral medications they are taking and avoid sex when the partner has symptoms of herpes. Until the 1960s, theHerpes infections were untreated, but chemists later discovered antiviral drugs that could stop DNA replication inside the virus genome (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). These DNA inhibitors could be used for herpes encephalitis, herpes keratitis, immune suppression caused by HIV, organ transplants and for people undergoing radiation or chemotherapy. Ten years later, guanine and acyclovir were synthesized to better treat herpes in adults and newborns. Although there is no cure for the virus, it can be treated with antiviral drugs such as Valtrex, Famvir and Zovirax. As for genital sores, warm baths can alleviate symptoms. Additionally, antivirals of the innate immune system have been shown to play a role in the response to HSV infection, e.g. IFN-alpha and beta and Toll-like receptors2 and 9. Science n has not developed an effective vaccine against herpes. The vaccine should provoke an innate immune response and control the infection at the mucosa and dorsal lymph nodes. Pregnant women with genital herpes should keep up with their prenatal visits to the doctor, as the infection can lead to miscarriage or premature delivery. The herpes virus can be passed to an unborn baby, but it is more common for babies to become infected when they come into contact with vaginal blisters during delivery. Babies can develop neonatal herpes and develop skin, eye and mouth lesions. The strength of the virus can cause the baby to die. Therefore, mothers should take anti-herpes medications to reduce the symptoms of the virus during delivery, but if the symptoms persist, the doctor may perform a cesarean section to avoid cross-contamination. HSV1 and HSV2 are the most common types of herpes. virus, but as previously noted, there are different subfamilies. In the alphaherpesvirinae subfamily belongs HHV3 which causes chickenpox and shingles. HHV3 is the only known herpesvirus with a vaccine. Before the discovery of the vaccine in 1995, there were 4 million cases, but this number fell to 35,000 cases per year (Fahey, Michele A.). The vaccine was administered to 1-year-old infants in a series of 2 doses. Adults who suffered from chickenpox as children can receive the shingles vaccine, a high dose of chickenpox vaccine, which reduces the risk of developing shingles by 50%. This virus is an airborne virus, but can also be transmitted through bodily fluids, saliva and mucous membranes. During the primary infection, the respiratory epithelial cells are first invaded, then the T cells of the tonsils (Fahey, Michele A.). Circulating T cells will infect the liver, sensory lymph nodes and spleen. After two weeks of virus replication in the body, infected T cells will produce proteins that bind to receptors on skin cells, causing damage. When a person is first infected with this virus, the virus presents itself like chickenpox and is very contagious. Symptoms experienced by the patient range from flu-like symptoms to rashes on the head and chest, fluid-filled blisters, and skin lesions. If the virus returns, it presents as shingles. Shingles is rare in young adults with a strong immune response, but can be more common and painful in older patients. In the case of shingles, the fluid-filled blisters are limited to a specific area where the affected nerves are located. The blisters can cause itching and pain..