ScienceDaily: Herpes News

Immune cells that suppress genital herpes infections identified

Wed, 08 May 2013 13:17:17 EDT

Scientists have identified a class of immune cells that reside long-term in the genital skin and mucosa and are believed to be responsible for suppressing recurring outbreaks of genital herpes. These immune cells also play a role in suppressing symptoms of genital herpes, which is why most sufferers of the disease are asymptomatic when viral reactivations occur. The discovery of this subtype of immune cells, called CD8αα+ T cells, opens a new avenue of research to develop a vaccine to prevent and treat herpes simplex virus type 2, or HSV-2. Identifying these T cells’ specific molecular targets, called epitopes, is the next step in developing a vaccine.

Shingles vaccine is associated with reduction in both postherpetic neuralgia and herpes zoster

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 17:35:35 EDT

A vaccine to prevent shingles may reduce by half the occurrence of this painful skin and nerve infection in older people (aged over 65 years) and may also reduce the rate of a painful complication of shingles, post-herpetic neuralgia, but has a very low uptake (only 4 percent) in older adults in the United States, according to a new study.

Varicella vaccine has long-term effectiveness against chicken pox

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 07:52:52 EDT

Chicken pox, the childhood affliction of earlier generations, has been largely neutralized by the varicella vaccine, according to a new study.

How herpesvirus invades nervous system

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 09:17:17 EDT

Scientists have identified a component of the herpesvirus that "hijacks" machinery inside human cells, allowing the virus to rapidly and successfully invade the nervous system upon initial exposure.

Could that cold sore increase your risk of memory problems?

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 18:38:38 EDT

The virus that causes cold sores, along with other viral or bacterial infections, may be associated with cognitive problems, according to a new study.

New approach for stopping herpes infections

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:02:02 EDT

Researchers have discovered a novel strategy for preventing infections due to the highly common herpes simplex viruses, the microbes responsible for causing genital herpes (herpes simplex virus 2) and cold sores (herpes simplex virus 1). The finding could lead to new drugs for treating or suppressing herpes virus infections.

Map of 'shortcuts' between all human genes

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:16:16 EDT

Researchers have generated the full set of distances, routes and degrees of separation between any two human genes, creating a map of gene "shortcuts" that aims to simplify the hunt for disease-causing genes in monogenic diseases.

Evidence supports blocking immune response to enhance viral therapy against solid tumors

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:35:35 EDT

Following several years of study, investigators have found more evidence that viral therapy to treat solid tumors can be enhanced by blocking the body's natural immune response.

Virus and genes involved in causation of schizophrenia

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:13:13 EST

For the first time, researchers have found that a combination of a particular virus in the mother and a specific gene variant in the child increases the risk of the child developing schizophrenia.

Use of certain therapies for inflammatory diseases does not appear to increase risk of shingles

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:40:40 EST

Although patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a disproportionately higher incidence of herpes zoster (shingles), an analysis that included nearly 60,000 patients with RA and other inflammatory diseases found that those who initiated anti-tumor necrosis factor therapies were not at higher risk of herpes zoster compared with patients who initiated nonbiologic treatment regimens, according to a new study.

Study suggests link between untreated depression and response to shingles vaccine

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 07:56:56 EST

Results from a new study suggest a link between untreated depression in older adults and decreased effectiveness of the herpes zoster, or shingles, vaccine. Older adults are known to be at risk for shingles, a painful condition caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, and more than a million new cases occur each year in the US. The vaccine boosts cell-mediated immunity to the virus and can decrease the incidence and severity of the condition.

Engineered oncolytic herpes virus inhibits ovarian and breast cancer metastases

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:08:08 EST

A genetically reprogrammed Herpes simplex virus (HSV) can cure metastatic diffusion of human cancer cells in the abdomen of laboratory mice, according to a new study.

Brain displays an intrinsic mechanism for fighting infection

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 22:12:12 EST

White blood cells have long reigned as the heroes of the immune system. When an infection strikes, the cells, produced in bone marrow, race through the blood to fight off the pathogen. But new research is emerging that individual organs can also play a role in immune system defense, essentially being their own hero. In a study examining a rare and deadly brain infection, scientists have found that the brain cells of healthy people likely produce their own immune system molecules, demonstrating an "intrinsic immunity" that is crucial for stopping an infection.

Patient's own immune cells may blunt viral therapy for brain cancer

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 19:30:30 EST

Doctors now use cancer-killing viruses to treat some patients with lethal, fast-growing brain tumors. Clinical trials show that these therapeutic viruses are safe but less effective than expected. A new study shows that the patient's own immune system quickly works to eliminate the anticancer virus, and it discovered how this happens.

Unexpected bottleneck identified in spread of herpes simplex virus

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:04:04 EST

New research suggests that just one or two individual herpes virus particles attack a skin cell in the first stage of an outbreak, resulting in a bottleneck in which the infection may be vulnerable to medical treatment.

How and why herpes viruses reactivate to cause disease

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 12:55:55 EDT

The word "herpes" conjures negative stereotypes, but most people are infected with some form of the virus. After a flare-up, the virus usually remains latent until the right circumstances to return. Now, research sheds some light on what triggers the virus to reactivate. It shows that the immune system may actually lose control over the virus when facing new microbial threats, such as fending off other viruses or bacteria.

Sugar-free approach to treating Kaposi sarcoma

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 12:47:47 EDT

A sugar-loving protein drives the growth of Kaposi sarcoma tumors, according to a new study. Interfering with these sugary interactions inhibited growth of Kaposi sarcomas in mice, hinting at the potential for new treatment strategies in humans.

No increased risk of cancer for people with shingles, new study finds

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:39:39 EDT

Herpes zoster, or shingles, does not increase the risk of cancer in the general population, according to a new study.

Compound discovered that boosts effect of vaccines against HIV and flu

Sun, 26 Aug 2012 14:35:35 EDT

Scientists have discovered a compound that greatly boosts the effect of vaccines against viruses like flu, HIV and herpes in mice.

New strain of hand, foot and mouth virus worries parents, pediatricians

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 11:14:14 EDT

Your child goes to bed in perfect health. The next morning she wakes up with high fever, malaise and bright red blisters erupting all over her body. Dermatologists say the disturbing scenario has become quite common in the last few months, sending scared parents to their pediatrician’s office or straight to the emergency room.

To spread, nervous system viruses sabotage cell, hijack transportation

Wed, 30 May 2012 13:37:37 EDT

Researchers have found that herpes and other viruses that attack the nervous system may thrive by disrupting cell function in order to hijack a neuron's internal transportation network and spread to other cells.

Novel RNA transport mechanism: Ribonucleoprotein granules exit the nucleus via a budding mechanism

Thu, 10 May 2012 12:28:28 EDT

The movement of genetic materials, such as RNA and ribosomes, from the nucleus to the cytoplasm is a critical component in a cell's ability to make the proteins necessary for essential biological functions. Until now, it was believed the nuclear pore complex was the sole pathway between the cell nucleus and cytoplasm for these materials. New evidence reveals a novel budding mechanism, similar to the process used by some viruses, capable of exporting large ribonucleoprotein particles from the nucleus to the cytoplasm.

Shingles vaccine is safe, according to new study

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:49:49 EDT

The herpes zoster vaccine, also known as the shingles vaccine, is generally safe and well tolerated according to a Vaccine Safety Datalink study of 193,083 adults.

Possible origin of chronic lymphatic leukemia identified

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:40:40 EDT

Up until now the causes of the development of chronic lymphatic leukemia, the most common form of cancer of the blood in Europe, have been unknown. At present a cure is not possible. Medical researchers have now however discovered a lead on the origin of this disease.

To drive infections, a hijacking virus mimics a cell's signaling system

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:35:35 EDT

New biological research reveals how an invading virus hijacks a cell's workings by imitating a signaling marker to defeat the body's defenses. By manipulating cell signals, the virus destroys a defensive protein designed to inhibit it. This finding, from studies in human cell cultures, may represent a broader targeting strategy used by other viruses, and may lay the scientific groundwork for developing more effective treatments for infectious diseases.

Progress made toward a genital herpes vaccine

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:48:48 EST

New research points investigators toward finding a genital herpes vaccine that works on both viruses that cause disease.

Gene is first linked to herpes-related cold sores

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:05:05 EST

Researchers have identified the first gene associated with frequent herpes-related cold sores.

Specific gene linked to cold sore susceptibility, study finds

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 08:27:27 EDT

Researchers have identified a human chromosome containing a specific gene associated with susceptibility to herpes simplex labialis, the common cold sore. The study looks at how several genes may affect the severity of symptoms and frequency of this common infection. The findings, if confirmed, could have implications for the development of new drugs to treat outbreaks.

Antiviral drugs may slow Alzheimer's progression

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:25:25 EDT

Antiviral drugs used to target the herpes virus could be effective at slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease, a new study shows.

Researchers on the trail of a treatment for cancer of the immune system

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 13:15:15 EDT

Danish researchers have become the first in the world to regulate a special receptor or bio-antenna that plays a vital part when the Epstein Barr herpes virus infects us and when this infection appears to be mutating into cancer of the immune system. Using a biochemical blueprint and a tiny bio-molecule researchers have succeeded in blocking the receptor concerned. This will make it possible to adjust and regulate the memory cells of the immune system.

Immunogene therapy combined with standard treatment is safe for patients with brain tumors, study suggests

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:22:22 EDT

An early phase clinical trial has shown that a form of gene therapy is safe even when combined with radiation therapy for treating brain tumors such as glioblastoma multiforme, the most common and dangerous form of brain cancer. The novel treatment uses an adenovirus vector that is taken up by cancer cells where it activates a drug that kills the cells.

Multiple sclerosis-like disease discovered in monkeys

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:33:33 EDT

Researchers have discovered a naturally occurring disease in monkeys that is very much like multiple sclerosis in humans -- a discovery that could have a major impact on efforts to understand the cause of multiple sclerosis.

Goodbye cold sores

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 09:54:54 EDT

Herpes infections on the lips, in the eyes or on the nose are painful, long-lasting and unpleasant. A new 3D herpes infection model brings hope: active ingredients and new treatments can be reliably tested with this model. Animal tests could soon be a thing of the past.

Shingles may be related to elevated risk of multiple sclerosis

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:30:30 EDT

Taiwanese investigators have found that there can be a significantly higher risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) occurring in the year following a shingles, or herpes zoster, attack. The findings support a long-held view on how MS may develop.

Epstein-Barr virus could be risk factor for multiple sclerosis, study suggests

Tue, 17 May 2011 09:16:16 EDT

While there is no cause known for multiple sclerosis, patients with MS seem to have genetic vulnerability to certain environmental factors that could trigger this condition, such as the Epstein-Barr virus. Scientists have now found a link between the Epstein-Barr virus --- which belongs to the herpes viruses family --- and the development of this condition.

Study challenges concerns on effectiveness of administering pneumococcal, shingles vaccines together

Wed, 11 May 2011 19:32:32 EDT

Administering both the pneumococcal and the herpes zoster vaccines to patients during the same visit is beneficial and does not appear to compromise the protective effect of the zoster vaccine, according to a new study.

Scientists use genetically altered virus to get tumors to tattle on themselves

Wed, 11 May 2011 17:09:09 EDT

Scientists have used a genetically re-engineered herpes virus that selectively hunts down and infects cancerous tumors and then delivers genetic material that prompts cancers to secrete a biomarker and reveal their presence. The novel technology has the potential to vastly improve cancer diagnosis by allowing the disease to be caught at much earlier stages and to monitor the effectiveness of therapy.

Genital herpes more virulent in Africa than in US, report finds

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 08:31:31 EDT

Strains of genital herpes in Africa are far more virulent than those in the United States, researchers report -- a striking insight into a common disease with important implications for preventing HIV transmission in a region staggered by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Tansy may be used to treat herpes, study suggests

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 16:09:09 EDT

A folk remedy may be an effective treatment for the sexually transmitted disease herpes according to new research.

Persons with herpes simplex virus type 2, but without symptoms, still shed virus

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 10:13:13 EDT

Persons who have tested positive for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) but do not have symptoms or genital lesions still experience virus shedding during subclinical (without clinical manifestations) episodes, suggesting a high risk of transmission from persons with unrecognized HSV-2 infection, according to a new study.

Recurring genital problems could be herpes, Swedish study suggests

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:39:39 EDT

A study of patients attending sexual health clinics in Gothenburg, Sweden found that just four out of ten patients with genital herpes actually knew that they had the disorder. However, a third of those who did not realize that they had been infected reported typical symptoms at a follow-up visit, reveals new research.

Herpes linked to Alzheimer's disease: 'Cold sores' connected to cognitive decline

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:22:22 EDT

New research using a new technique to observe herpes simplex virus type 1 infections inside cells, finds that re-activation and growth of HSV1 infections contribute to cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Patients with COPD have higher risk of shingles, study finds

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:19:19 EST

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at greater risk of shingles compared with the general population, according to a new study. The risk is greatest for patients taking oral steroids to treat COPD.

Can breastfeeding transmit yellow fever after maternal vaccination?

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 12:20:20 EST

A five-week old infant most likely contracted a vaccine strain of yellow fever virus through breastfeeding, according to a case report from Canada.

Athletes prone to a rash of skin conditions

Sat, 05 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST

Team sports have a long history of fostering cooperation, camaraderie and a healthy competitive spirit among athletes. But the closeness that brings athletes together also can create an environment for a host of contagious skin infections. Now, dermatologists are urging teammates and coaches to be aware of the most common skin conditions caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi that occur in athletes and educating them on how to prevent a widespread outbreak.

New study alters long-held beliefs about shingles

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 12:25:25 EST

For decades, medical wisdom about shingles has been that it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The commonly-held belief is that patients are protected from a recurrence of the herpes zoster virus, which causes shingles, after one episode. But according to a new study, recurrences of shingles may be significantly more common than doctors have suspected.

Zoster vaccine associated with lower risk of shingles in older adults

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 16:50:50 EST

Vaccination for herpes zoster, a painful rash commonly known as shingles, among a large group of older adults was associated with a reduced risk of this condition, regardless of age, race or the presence of chronic diseases, according to a new study.

Herpes virus' tactical maneuver visualized in 3-D

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 19:20:20 EST

For the first time, researchers have developed a 3-D picture of a herpes virus protein interacting with a key part of the human cellular machinery, enhancing our understanding of how it hijacks human cells to spread infection and opening up new possibilities for stepping in to prevent or treat infection. This discovery uncovers one of the many tactical maneuvers employed by the virus.

Cellular protein hobbles HIV-1

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:12:12 EST

A cellular protein called BST-2 had already been known to interfere with the spread of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), by inhibiting the release of its progeny particles from infected cells. Now scientists show that in addition, each progeny virion's ability to cause infection is severely impaired.

Pain of shingles (herpes zoster) significantly interferes with daily life

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 13:00:00 EDT

Acute herpes zoster, or shingles, interferes with all health areas for people with the condition, including sleep, enjoyment of life and general activities, according to a new study.

Genital herpes vaccine ineffective in women, study suggests

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 10:15:15 EDT

An experimental vaccine intended to prevent genital herpes disease in women, although generally safe and well-tolerated, proved ineffective when tested in the recently concluded clinical study known as the Herpevac Trial for Women.

Drug against AIDS could be effective against herpesvirus

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 08:18:18 EDT

Scientists have shown that raltegravir, the drug approved in 2007 for the treatment of AIDS that is sold by Merck under the name Isentress, cancels the function of an essential protein for the replication of one kind of herpes virus. This study is the first step towards the development of a drug against the entire herpesvirus family.

Antiviral therapy associated with fewer recurring eye problems from herpes simplex virus

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 16:25:25 EDT

Taking oral antiviral medications following infection with the herpes simplex virus may be associated with a reduced risk of recurring eye-related manifestations of the disease, according a new report.

Use of certain antiviral drugs during pregnancy not linked with higher risk of major birth defects, study suggests

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:14:14 EDT

An analysis of data from Denmark finds no associated increased risk of major birth defects for mothers who were exposed during the first trimester of pregnancy to the antiviral drugs acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir, often used to treat herpes simplex and herpes zoster infections, according to a new study.

New way to target viruses could make antiviral drugs more effective

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:26:26 EDT

Scientists have developed a new way to target viruses which could increase the effectiveness of antiviral drugs. Instead of attacking the virus itself, the method developed at the University of Edinburgh alters the conditions which viruses need to survive and multiply.

Microbicide gel: Reduced risk of HIV and herpes infections in women, study shows

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:24:24 EDT

Researchers have achieved an important scientific breakthrough in the fight against HIV and genital herpes with a vaginal gel that significantly reduces a woman's risk of being infected with these viruses, according to a ground-breaking safety and effectiveness study of an antiretroviral microbicide gel study.

Genetically reprogrammed HSV given systemically shrinks distant sarcomas

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 10:24:24 EDT

Scientists have used a genetically reprogrammed herpes virus and an anti-vascular drug to shrink spreading distant sarcomas designed to model metastatic disease in mice -- still an elusive goal when treating humans with cancer, according to new research. The study results are even more significant because the oncolytic herpes virus was given to the mice systemically to attack tumors via the blood stream instead of being injected directly into tumors

Map of herpes virus protein suggests a new drug therapy

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 11:26:26 EDT

New research reveals the unusual structure of a key protein complex that allows a herpes virus to invade cells. This close-up of the herpes virus's "cell-entry machinery" sheds light on how herpes viruses work and provides a promising new target for antiviral drugs.

Cold sore virus may contribute to cognitive and brain abnormalities in schizophrenia

Fri, 28 May 2010 21:12:12 EDT

Exposure to the common virus that causes cold sores may be partially responsible for shrinking regions of the brain and the loss of concentration skills, memory, coordinated movement and dexterity widely seen in patients with schizophrenia, according to research led by Johns Hopkins scientists.

Potential new drug target to combat Kaposi's sarcoma

Thu, 06 May 2010 11:26:26 EDT

Scientists have identified how the virus which causes Kaposi's sarcoma replicates and spreads -- opening a door to a possible new treatment for the disease.