The history of Herpes dates back to ancient Greece. The Greeks coined the term Herpes meaning “crawling/crawling” and documented descriptions of the virus as sores appearing on the surface of people's skin. The Roman emperor Tiberius banned kissing during ceremonies to decrease the incidence of Herpes among people. It was not until 1873 that Jean Baptiste Emile Vidal, a French doctor, confirmed that the virus could be transmitted from person to person. As for characteristics, the Herpes virus is a double-stranded DNA virus measuring 200 nm 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 fusing. 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. Because it is a larger virus than other double-stranded viruses such as polyomaviruses and papillomaviruses, the virus is able to produce its own polymerase. During replication, glycoproteins attach to cell receptors, the envelope fuses, then allowing entry of the nucleocapsid and proteins, as well as DNA when the capsid releases contact from the nuclear membrane. As for the infection, the Herpes virus is latent and recurrent. The Herpes virus belongs to the Herpesvirales order within the Herpesviridae family. 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 latency in neuronal cells cause tears in the skin. 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 a latency in B cells that leads to cancer. In total, there are 9 human herpesviruses known to infect humans. Examples of viruses for the subfamilies will be discussed in detail later. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay The herpes virus commonly known to the public is HSV1 and HSV2, alpha virus. With a linear genome, the virus has no terminal telomeres so, for protection and replication purposes, the virus uses the hairpin structure that splits at the end to create more linear ends. The cytopathic effects that HSV has on animal cells include aggregation 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 creating more nucleic acids for its life cycle. Studies claim that approximately two-thirds of the human population is infected with one or both types of herpes viruses. Crowded, unsanitary areas are most likely to have the highest rates of HSV infection. About 33% of children raised in a low-income family are more prone to HSV-1 than children from middle-income families. Furthermore, a man is more likely to transmit the infection to his partner than vice versa (Wertheim, Joel). Common symptoms seen by patients include cold sores around the mouth/lips or lumps (HSV1) or liquid blisters in the genital area that rupture over time (HSV2). In HSV2 the area with the lesionscorresponds to the side of the affected ganglion. Other less common herpes-related disorders include finger/thumb lesions, ocular herpes, and herpes affecting the central nervous system. Herpes whitlow, lesions on the fingers/thumbs, occurs through 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 is infected. HSV1 can be transmitted through the sharing of items such as utensils and toothbrushes or by infected individuals. For oral herpes, the primary infection is asymptomatic, but can be symptomatic if severe. For recurrent infection, HSV1 is classified as asymptomatic. Adults may experience pharyngitis, fever and headache. HSV2 is transmitted during sexual contact. The first outbreak is described as the most painful. HSV2 follows the same primary and recurrent infection cycle as HSV1. The virus is not always active, meaning it will remain dormant in nerve cells until a triggering event occurs. Events that can lead to the outbreak of recurring symptoms include a suppressed immune system, stress, fatigue, trauma, menstrual cycle, or illness. Statistically in the United States alone, 50% of people show symptoms of HSV1 (Herpes Simple Type 1) while 15% show symptoms of HSV2 (Herpes Simple Type 2) (Luo, 2017). About 1 in 8 people suffer from HSV2. In some patients, symptoms appear months or years after exposure to the virus, but in others, symptoms begin to appear after two days or two weeks. Patients experiencing such symptoms have been infected through oral, vaginal, or anal sexual intercourse with an infected individual. 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 labium minora and vagina for females or in the foreskin for males. This replication is carried out on the fibers of unmyelinated sensory neurons which then retrograde into the cell body of the dorsal ganglion root neuron. These abrasions or cracks are access to surface receptors on skin cells and even Langerhans cells leading to infection. Dendritic cells and epidermal keratinocytes express HSV receptors. Endocytosis is one way that epidermal keratinocytes are affected by HSV. A production of interferons and cytokines results from infection of epidermal keratinocytes and Langerhan cells. As stated previously, HSV will enter the terminals of sensory neurons. Upon arrival the glycoproteins disassemble from the cell membrane due to cell membrane fusion. After primary infection, comes recurrent infection in epithelial cells throughout life in an anterograde manner. The virus cannot be transmitted through toilet seats, swimming pools, or by touching cutlery, towels or bedding (WebMD). To reduce your chances of contracting the virus, have a partner who has tested negative for the virus and use a latex condom during sexual intercourse. If a person is in a relationship with an infected individual, then the individual should be aware of the antiviral medications he or she is taking and avoid sexual intercourse when the partner has symptoms of Herpes. Until the 1960s, herpes infections went untreated, but then chemists discovered antiviral drugs that could stop the replication of DNA material within the virus' genome (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). These DNA inhibitors could be used for herpes encephalitis, herpes keratitis, immune suppression by HIV,organs and for those undergoing radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Ten years later, guanine and acyclovir were synthesized to better treat herpes in adults and infants. While there is no cure for the virus, it can be treated with antivirals such as Valtrex, Famvir, and Zovirax. As for genital wounds, warm baths can relieve symptoms. Furthermore, antivirals have been shown to play an important role in the innate immune system in responding to HSV infection, for example IFN-alpha and beta and Toll-like2 and 9 receptors. Science has not developed an effective vaccine against 'herpes. The vaccine must elicit an innate immune response and control the infection at the mucosal and dorsal ganglion levels. Pregnant women with genital herpes need to keep up with prenatal visits to the doctor because the infection can lead to miscarriage or premature birth. The herpes virus could be transmitted to the fetus, but it is more common for the baby to become infected when it comes into contact with vaginal blisters during childbirth. Babies can develop neonatal herpes and show lesions on the skin, eyes, and mouth. The potency of the virus can cause the death of the child. Therefore, mothers should take anti-herpes medications to reduce symptoms of the virus during childbirth, but if symptoms persist, the doctor may perform a cesarean section to avoid cross-contamination. HSV1 and HSV2 are the most commonly known types of herpes. viruses, but as mentioned before there are various subfamilies. HHV3, which causes chickenpox and herpes zoster, belongs to the alphaherpesvirinae subfamily. HHV3 is the only known herpesvirus with a vaccine. Before the discovery of the vaccine in 1995, there were 4 million cases, but the number has dropped to 35,000 cases per year (Fahey, Michele A.). The vaccine was administered to one-year-old children in a series of 2 doses. Adults who had chickenpox as children can receive the zoster vaccine, a strong dose of chickenpox vaccine, which reduces the chance of developing shingles by 50%. This virus is transmitted through the air, but can also be transmitted through body fluids, saliva and mucous membranes. During primary infection, first the respiratory epithelial cells are invaded, then the T cells of the tonsils (Fahey, Michele A.). Circulating T cells will infect the liver, sensory ganglia, and spleen. After two weeks of the virus replicating in the body, infected T cells will produce proteins that bind to receptors on skin cells causing lesions. When a person is first infected with this virus, the virus looks like chickenpox and is highly contagious. The symptoms experienced by the patient range from flu-like symptoms, rashes on the head and chest, fluid-filled blisters and skin lesions. If the virus returns, it shows up as shingles. Shingles is rare in young adults with a strong immune response, but can be more common and painful in older patients. With shingles, the fluid-filled blisters are limited to a specific area where the affected nerves are located. The blisters may be itchy and painful due to the sensory nerves involved, but over time they dry up and heal. Shingles is a recurring infection, so a person may experience several episodes of the virus each year. Topical ointments can be used to reduce itching, and antivirals such as acyclovir, valaciclovir, and famciclovir can be taken to relieve symptoms. HHV4, Epstein-Barr virus, belongs to the Gammaherpesvirinae family, an asymptomatic virus that causes most cases of the "kissing" disease mononucleosis. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). This virus can be transmitted..