Herpes Viruses Flashcards
What is the genome of herpes viruses?
What is the composition of the virus?
double stranded DNA with linear genome
Enclosed in capside surrounded by tegument which is surrounded by lipid envelope
There could be unique isoforms of the UL and Us sections
What is the sequence of transcriptional events?
Burst of RNA synthesis for proteins needed at that time; proteins are transcribed from genomes within the virion
Early proteins synthesized a responsible for DNA synthesis a then DNA rep then all the virion structural proteins produced and assembled into virus particles.
What does the primary infection for HSV1 include (6)
Means of transmission?
Portal Entry?
Target cell?
cold sores, sore throat, fever, rarely encephalitis.
less freq found as a genital infection
Also could cause herpetic keratinitis
Transmission: direct contact
Portal of entry: mucosal membranes, skin
Target: skin
Primary lytic infection of epithelial cells
What is the pathogenesis of herpes?
- Primary lytic infection of epithelial cells
- Virus infects sensory neurons [latency]
Latency associated transcrips (LATs), are the only viral mRNA that will be present in sensory root
Reactivation can occur –> virus travels back to epithelial cells causing lesions and shedding (at same site of primary infection)
HSV1: What is occuring during the latent infection period?
What occurs during recurrence?
Asymptomatic, no virus are being produced (thus NOT chronic)
Viral NDA resides in SENSORY CELLS of TRIGEMINAL NERVE GANGLION!
wait for reactivation (stress, immunosuppression…)
Reccurent infection: virus replicated and travels down sensory nerve fibers to infect epithelial cells around the NOSE AND MOUTH
Symptoms are usually milder for of primary infection
What is the primary infection of HSV2?
Usually vesicular eruptions on the genitalia, less frequently found as herpes labialis (cold sores)
Transmission: (sexual) contact
affects both sexes
Latent infection and
Recurrent infection of HSV2?
During latent infection, no virus are being produced. Viral DNA resides in SENOSRY CELLS of SACRAL GANGLION
Recurrent Infection: milder outbreak generally in same location in genital area
[could occur monthly for some women]
Other HSV lesions:
Herpatic whitlow?
Gladitorium?
Whitlow - associated with herpes on the fingers/abrasion in the fingers; usually seen in dentist, or emergency workers (HSV1/2)
Gladitorium - associated with wrestlers / gyms (HSV1)
Ocular herpes - keratoconjuctivitis (HSV1)
- less common but can occur due to specific contact with infectious agent in different body locations*
- eonatal herpes, encephalitis (primary or reactivation), disseminated herpes*
What is one treatment option?
What are 2 awesome things about this drug?
HSV - acyclovir (nucleoside analog- chain termination by substituting GTP into DNA strand)
Unphosphorylated and becomes phosphorylated in virally infected cells! (via viral thymidine kinase)
Higher affinity for herpes virus DNA polymerase than cellular
Could acyclovir resistance develop?
How do mutations arise?
Resistance is due to mutation in the gene encoding
*viral thymidine kinsae, the drug is not phosphorylated to the active form
* viral polymerase - the polymerase no longer efficiently binds the drug
Doesn’t happen often, usually the viruses are still attenuated, and more likely seen in immunocompromised patients
Pritelivir:
MOA
Directed towards herpesvirus helicase-primase (involved in the unwinding of the DNA)
Stop DNA rep
Specific to herpes virus
–> shown to REDUCE SHEDDING and REDUCE DAYS WITH LESIONS
Varicella Zoster Virus:
Primary infection (3)
- infection occurs in seasonal epidermics as chicken pox (varicella)
- Contracted from another infected individual usually a child, via RESPIRATORY TRANSMISSION
- Systemic infection resulting in a generalized, vesicular rash
Mild prodrome (fever and malaise) for 1-2 days
Successive crops (2-4 days) of pruritic vesicles
Generally appear first on head, most concentrated on trunk
generally mild in healthy children
** you see the vesicles at all different stages!!**
When/how can the virus be transmitted?
Usually infectious stage BEGINS durring the prodrome stage of the virus, BEFORE the vesicular rash appears; infeciton of mucosa of upper respiratory tract
Primary viremia begins around day 5 –> viral replication in liver, spleen and other organs –> secondary viremia = contagious period (around day 11) –> Fever –> infection of skin and appearance of vesicular rash at about day 14, where the individual is still contagious
(contagious from days 11 - 17)
Overall about 20 day cycle
What can scratching a lesion impose?
scratching –> infection with s. aureus
What are the complications of varicella? (5)
What age group are these complications mostly seen?
Bacterial infection of lesions
CNS manifestations (encephalitis)
Pneumonia (rare in children)
Hospitalization ~3 per 1000 cases
Death ~1 per 60,000 cases
Especially seen in infants under 1 or adults over the age of 30 who acquire primary infection
What vaccine is available for vzv?
What is its effectivness
Who shouldn’t receive it and why?
VARIVAX
Live-attenuated vaccine (not to be given to immunocompromised hosts)
95% efficacy [98% effect in protecting from severe dz, 70-85% protective against any form of VZV]
induces seroconversion after 1 dose
duration is probably life long
Now given as: MMRV, thus boosted every so often
