Herpes tagged posts

In a first, scientists use gene-editing to disrupt both latent and active herpes virus in human cells. Scientists have used the gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9 to disrupt both latent reservoirs of the herpes simplex virus and actively replicating virus in human fibroblast cells. Experiments pinpoint weak spot that can make the virus susceptible to gene editing.

The herpes simplex virus, commonly known as the cold sore virus, is a devious microbe.

It enters the body through regions lined with mucous membranes – mouth, nose and genitals – but quickly establishes lifelong viral hideouts inside nerve cells...

A cross-section of mouse dorsal root ganglia stained for memory CD4 T cells (green) and the vascular cell adhesion molecule, VCAM-1 (red) after six days of genital herpes challenge. Credit: Norifumi Iijima

Yale scientists have solved a puzzle of the immune system – how antibodies enter the nervous system to control viral infections. Their finding may have implications for the prevention and treatment of a range of conditions, including herpes and Guillain-Barre syndrome, which has been linked to the Zika virus.

Many viruses, such as West Nile, Zika, HSV enter the nervous system, where they were thought to be beyond the reach of antibodies. Yale immunobiologists Dr...