Herpes Virus Flashcards
How common are herpes viruses
Infect most of the human population and people past middle age usually have antibodies of most herpes viruses except HHV-8
Name a few types of Herpes Virus
HSV-1 HSV-2 Varicella-Zoster Epstein-Barr CMV (cytomegalovirus)
What types of Herpes Virus are found in the alpha subfamily of herpes viruses and what diseases do they tend to cause
- HHV-1 - Herpes simplex type 1 = cold sores
- HHV-2 - Herpes simplex type 2 - genial herpes
- HHV-3 - Varicella-Zoster - chickenpox shingles
What diseases does HHV-4 virus cause (EBV)
Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)
- Infectious mononucleosis/ glandular fever
- Burkitt’s lymphoma
What different structures are present in the Herpes virus
- Tegument
- Capsid
- Genome
- Lipid envelope
What is the tegument structure in the herpes virus
- The space between the envelope and capsid
- Contains virally encoded proteins and enzymes involved in the initiation of replication
What is a weakness about the lipid envelope of the herpes virus
Envelope is fragile and a damaged envelope is not infectious
What is the herpes virus sensitive to and why
- Drying
- Acids
- Detergents
- Organic solvents
As these will damage the envelope that will stop the virus from becoming infectious
Describe the replication process of herpes viruses
- Virus can bind to several host receptors that makes the envelope fuse with the plasma membrane
- Capsid moves to the nucleus and uses host polymerase to replicate
- Lytic infection - mRNA moves to cytoplasm, proteins built and assembled and the virus is exocytosed from the plasma membrane
What adaptation do herpes viruses have that allows them to carry out DNA synthesis in non-dividing cells
- Herpes viruses encode their own DNA-dependent DNA polymerase
- Some herpes viruses encode enzymes like thymidine kinase that allow the virus to grow in non-dividing cells that don’t contain precursors of DNA synthesis.
- Without this enzyme, neurotropic herpes viruses could not replicate because of the low amounts of certain DNA precursors in nerve cells
What is infection latency
- Infection remains for life
- Initial infection may be followed by latency with subsequent re-activation
Name some of the enzymes that the genome of HSV encodes for and what do they do
- DNA-dependent DNA polymerase
- Thymidine kinase (phosphorylates thymidine and other nucleotides)
- Ribonucleotide reductase (converts ribonucleotides to deoxyribonucleotide)
- Serine-protease (convert a scaffolding protein to its final form)
What are the surface proteins that are encoded by the HSV genome involved in
- Attachment
- Fusion of the viral membrane with that of the host cell
- Immune escape and other functions
How does HSV-1 tend to spread
Usually spread from mouth to mouth or by transfer of infectious virus to the hands after which the virus may enter the body via any wound or through the eyes
How does HSV-2 tend to spread
Frequently spread sexually - genital area, anus, rectum and upper alimentary tract
What is different about the way that HSV-1/2 affect humans compared to animals
HSV-1/2 infect many animals but only humans show symptoms
What cells do the HSV oral herpes viruses infect first
Epithelial mucosal cells or lymphocytes
Describe how latency occurs with HSV oral herpes viruses
- Virus travels up peripheral nerves to a nucleated neurone where it may stay for years followed by reactivation
- Oral Mucosa; trigeminal ganglia (e.g. primary herpetic gingivostomatitis)
- Genital mucosa; sacral ganglia
- No cytopathic effect in neurones as only immediate early proteins are made
Describe reactivation of the HSV oral herpes virus
- Virus travels down the nerve axon
- Lesions at the dermatome - reddened area gives rise to a macula and crusts to form a papula
What are the causes of reactivation
- Most triggers are stress-related e.g. UV, fever
- Factors causing some degree of immune suppression leading to renewal of virus proliferation in the nerve cell
- Recurrent infections are usually less pronounced than the primary infection and resolve more rapidly
What is the role of the innate immune response in herpes virus infection
- Interferon and natural killer cells are important in limiting the initial infection
What is the role of the humoral immunity in herpes virus infection
Antibodies against surface glycoproteins leads to neutralisation
What is the role of cellular immunity in herpes virus infection
- Cytotoxic T cells and macrophages
- The cell mediated and inflammatory response lead to some of the disease symptoms
How do you carry out the diagnosis of HSV infections
- Cells may be obtained from the base of the lesion (called a tank smear) and histochemistry performed
- Virus can be isolated from biopsy specimens, from lesions, where it forms cytopathic effects (plaque) including multinucleate cells
- Presence of HSV antibodies in patient diagnoses primary infection but recurrence is not usually accompanied by a rise in antibody levels
How do people contract Herpes Whitlow
When people come into contact with herpes infected body secretions, can be caused by either type of HSV and enter the body via small wounds on the hands or wrists
Can also be transferred by transfer of HSV-2 from genitals to the hands