| The word "herpes" conjures up different images for | | | | different herpesviruses and have found more than 50 |
| different people. Some see herpes as an ugly and | | | | different animal species that can be infected with |
| annoying cold sore or blister that periodically appears | | | | some type of herpes virus. Humans appear to be a |
| on or around the lips. Others see herpes as a feared | | | | natural reservoir for at least 8 different types of the |
| sexually transmitted disease that, once you have | | | | herpes viruses that normally spread from human to |
| contracted, you have to suffer with for the rest of | | | | human and generally do not cause disease in other |
| your life. Of course both of these images do represent | | | | animals.Coming in contact with the virus, usually through |
| the term "herpes" quite accurately for many people | | | | sexual intercourse, is the first in a complex series of |
| throughout the world, but medically speaking herpes is | | | | events that result in contracting genital herpes. |
| also appropriately applied to several lesser known | | | | Projecting from the outer surface of the herpes virus |
| afflictions. These conditions include herpes inside the | | | | are protein-carbohydrate structures called |
| mouth (herpes gingivostomatitis), herpes of the throat | | | | glycoproteins. Glycoproteins allow the virus to attach |
| (herpes pharyngitis), herpes of the eye (herpes | | | | initially to proteoglycans, which are complex chemical |
| keratitis), herpes of the brain (herpes encephalitis), | | | | structures present on the surface of living cells. After |
| herpes transmitted to newborn infants (neonatal | | | | attaching to the host cell, glycopoteins then interact |
| herpes), chickenpox (varicella-zoster), mono | | | | with the cells surface structures to trigger changes in |
| (mononucleosis) and shingles (herpes-zoster). All of | | | | the cell membranes cytoskeletal structure. These |
| these conditions are caused by one of the two closely | | | | changes allow the viral envelope to fuse with the cell |
| related herpes viruses known as herpes simplex virus | | | | plasma membrane, essentially merging to form a |
| type 1 and herpes simplex virus type 2.To truly | | | | changed cell. When this fusion occurs, the nucleocapsid |
| understand the herpes virus it is helpful to first gain | | | | of the herpes virus enters into the cytoplasm of the |
| some knowledge about viruses in general. Viruses are | | | | host cell, attaching tiny skeleton-like structures known |
| the smallest known microbes, or infectious agents, that | | | | as microtubules and microfilaments which form an |
| medical science has discovered to date. Most viruses | | | | internal transportation network used to move materials |
| consist of a nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat | | | | within the cell. Using this structure the DNA of the |
| known as a capsid; this nucleic acid-protein complex is | | | | herpes virus enters the nucleus of the host cell where |
| referred to as a nucleocapsid. In more complex | | | | it makes copies of the viral DNA which are released |
| viruses, such as the herpes virus, the nucleocapsid is | | | | from the cell and spread to and infect other |
| surrounded by a membrane-like structure containing | | | | surrounding cells. This process of generating new virus |
| carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. This membrane-like | | | | particles kills the infected host cell.If the herpes virus |
| structure is referred to as an envelope. Each virus | | | | remained in the skins cells where initial viral attachment |
| contains one of two large complex chemicals that | | | | occurs, chances are that a healthy immune system |
| contain the viruses genetic code which serves as a | | | | could eventually control the infection and rid the body |
| blueprint for making more viruses. This complex | | | | of the virus. The herpes virus however has found a |
| chemical code is either RNA (ribonucleic acid) or DNA | | | | way to hide from the immune system by hibernating in |
| (deozyribonucleic acid).Unlike bacteria and more | | | | nerve cells. For unknown reasons the herpes virus |
| complex organisms, viruses do not carry all the | | | | does not start the replicating process in a select |
| equipment necessary to reproduce themselves. In | | | | number of nerve cells, instead hibernating and |
| order to multiply, a virus must enter a living cell, remove | | | | establishing a latent infection. When the herpes virus is |
| the cells protein coat and then use its RNA or DNA to | | | | hybernating it is in an inactive state and can not be |
| redirect the cells synthesizing mechanism to make | | | | detected by the immune system. This inactive state is |
| more copies of the virus. This process of making new | | | | referred to as latent infection or simply latency. |
| viruses can actually destroy or injure the living or 'host' | | | | Latency does not cause illness but unfortunately the |
| cell. If enough living host cells are injured or destroyed it | | | | latent virus can reactivate and produce more virus |
| results in a viral illness such as influenza (the flu), viral | | | | which, in turn, causes recurrent herpes.How |
| diarrhea or genital herpes. There are hundreds of | | | | reactivation occurs is unknown but it can happen for |
| known viruses and probably thousands of others not | | | | no apparent reason or be triggered by trauma, stress, |
| yet discovered. Each virus has adapted to infect a | | | | or exposure to ultraviolet radiation such as too much |
| particular type of cell in a specific living organism which | | | | sunlight. Whatever the trigger, after reactivation, the |
| explains why there are so many types of viruses. | | | | herpes virus is transported from the nerve cell body to |
| Because they have become so specialized some | | | | the nerve endings where it is released into the skin to |
| viruses can only infect certain types of cells, for | | | | replicate in the skin cells. This replication may |
| instance, liver cells or muscle cells or brain cells while | | | | sometimes cause full blown herpes sores outbreaks, |
| leaving other cells alone. Likewise, many viruses are | | | | but other times may result in "shedding" the virus which |
| even limited to the type of species they can infect. In | | | | causes no recognizable symptoms. However, either |
| general, this usually means that viruses which infect | | | | way, whether this reactivation is symptomatic or |
| cells in one type of animal, say a dog, can not be | | | | asyptomatic, the person is contagious during this |
| passed on to another type of animal, say a cat. Of | | | | reactivation period and it is possible to pass on the |
| course as with most rules, there are exceptions and | | | | virus to a partner. For this reason, experts recommend |
| some viruses can cause similar diseases in closely | | | | that people with genital herpes use condoms even |
| related species. Another exception is that sometimes | | | | when there is no obvious symptoms of an active |
| viruses can cause also cause very different illnesses in | | | | herpes breakout.John Trout is an internet research |
| the same species.The term "herpesvirus" refers to any | | | | specialist and web master of several information |
| member of the herpes simplex type 1 and herpes | | | | related websites including: where this article was first |
| simplex type 2 virus family. The necleocapsid of a | | | | published. This informative website is an excellent |
| herpes virus is surrounded by an envelope with | | | | source for a sound education about the herpes virus |
| spike-like structures projecting from the surface and | | | | as well as the latest news about treatments and a |
| contains DNA. So far, scientist have identified over 115 | | | | possible herpes cure. |