Detection of herpes simplex virus type-2 DNA restriction fragments in human cervical carcinoma tissue.

DNA extracted from eight human cervical carcinomas, one lymph node metastasis and related control tissue was examined for the presence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA sequences. Southern blot transfers of tumour and control DNA were hybridised with radioactively labelled cloned probes representing 70% of the HSV-2 genome. Specific hybridisation to HSV DNA sequences was observed in one of eight carcinoma tissues analysed. Hybridisation of HSV-2 DNA probes to BamHI and XhoI restriction enzyme fragments of tumour cell DNA which co-migrated with authentic HSV-2 viral fragments identified co-linear HSV-2 DNA sequences comprising 3% of the HSV-2 genome, between map coordinates 0.582 and 0.612. The remaining eight tumour and all control tissues analysed, showed no specific hybridisation to any of the probes used at levels of sensitivity which would detect 0.5 copies/cell of HSV-2 DNA restriction fragments of 2 kb or greater.     

Preventive Vaccination with Mesenchymal Stem Cells Protects Mice from Lethal Infection Caused by Herpes Simplex Virus 1

Molecular Biology - Herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) infect almost all organs and tissues, cause genital herpes—the most common sexually transmitted disease—disorders of...     

Discovery of Novel Herpes Simplexviruses in Wild Gorillas,Bonobos, and Chimpanzees Supports Zoonotic Origin of HSV-2

Viruses closely related to human pathogens can reveal the origins of human infectious diseases. Human herpes simplexvirus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) are hypothesized to have arisen via host-virus codivergence and cross-species transmission. We report the discovery of novel herpes simplexviruses during a large-scale screening of fecal samples from wild gorillas, bonobos, and chimpanzees. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that, contrary to expectation, simplexviruses from these African apes are all more closely related to HSV-2 than to HSV-1. Molecular clock-based hypothesis testing suggests the divergence between HSV-1 and the African great ape simplexviruses likely represents a codivergence event between humans and gorillas. The simplexviruses infecting African great apes subsequently experienced multiple cross-species transmission events over the past 3 My, the most recent of which occurred between humans and bonobos around 1 Ma. These findings revise our understanding of the origins of human herpes simplexviruses and suggest that HSV-2 is one of the earliest zoonotic pathogens.     

A lentiviral vector-based, herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein B vaccine affords cross-protection against HSV-1 and HSV-2 genital infections

Genital herpes is caused by herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2, and its incidence is constantly increasing in the human population. Regardless of the clinical manifestation, HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections are highly transmissible to sexual partners and enhance susceptibility to other sexually transmitted infections. An effective vaccine is not yet available. Here, HSV-1 glycoprotein B (gB1) was delivered by a feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) vector and tested against HSV-1 and HSV-2 vaginal challenges in C57BL/6 mice. The gB1 vaccine elicited cross-neutralizing antibodies and cell-mediated responses that protected 100 and 75% animals from HSV-1- and HSV-2-associated severe disease, respectively. Two of the eight fully protected vaccinees underwent subclinical HSV-2 infection, as demonstrated by deep immunosuppression and other analyses. Finally, vaccination prevented death in 83% of the animals challenged with a HSV-2 dose that killed 78 and 100% naive and mock-vaccinated controls, respectively. Since this FIV vector can accommodate two or more HSV immunogens, this vaccine has ample potential for improvement and may become a candidate for the development of a truly effective vaccine against genital herpes.     

Seroepidemiological study of herpes simplex virus type 2 in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in the city of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

This study was designed to determine the seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and to evaluate its association with age, sex as well as other demographic and behavioural factors in 150 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive adults patients attending the general medical outpatient ward for routine care of Niterói, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Serum samples were screened for HSV-2 antibodies using an indirect ELISA. Eighty-three patients were men (mean age: 38.8) and 67 were women (mean age: 35.4). The estimated prevalence of HSV-2 was 52% (95% CI: 44-60%) and it was higher among men (53%) than among women (50.7%). Overall, the age of first sexual intercourse and past history of genital herpes were associated with HSV-2 seropositivity. Analysis by gender disclosed significant association of number of lifetime sex partners only among men. Although HSV-2 antibodies were frequent in the study group, genital herpes was reported by 21.8% of the HSV-2 positive subjects, indicating low awareness of the HSV-2 infection. These results may have public health importance for Brazil as the high rate of HSV-2 infection may act as a cofactor of HIV transmission.     

In vivo role of nectin-1 in entry of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 through the vaginal mucosa

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is transmitted through the genital mucosa during sexual encounters. In recent years, HSV-1 has also become commonly associated with primary genital herpes. The mechanism of viral entry of HSV-1 and HSV-2 in the female genital tract is unknown. In order to understand the molecular interactions required for HSV entry into the vaginal epithelium, we examined the expression of herpesvirus entry mediator nectin-1 in the vagina of human and mouse at different stages of their hormonal cycle. Nectin-1 was highly expressed in the epithelium of human vagina throughout the menstrual cycle, whereas the mouse vaginal epithelium expressed nectin-1 only during the stages of the estrous cycle in which mice are susceptible to vaginal HSV infection. Furthermore, the ability of nectin-1 to mediate viral entry following intravaginal inoculation was examined in a mouse model of genital herpes. Vaginal infection with either HSV-1 or HSV-2 was blocked by preincubation of the virus with soluble recombinant nectin-1. Viral entry through the vaginal mucosa was also inhibited by preincubation of HSV-2 with antibody against gD. Together, these results suggest the importance of nectin-1 in mediating viral entry for both HSV-1 and HSV-2 in the genital mucosa in female hosts.     

Differential feulgen-deoxyribonucleic acid hydrolysis patterns of Herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 infected cells.

Infection of human embryonic lung cells with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-2) resulted in: (a) qualitative (nuclear cytopathologic) alterations and quantitative (nuclear area) differences in infected compared to control nuclei; (b) increased Feulgen-deoxyribonucleic acid (F-DNA) amounts in infected cells, probably due to viral DNA; (c) higher F-DNA levels in HSV-2 infected cells; and (d) increased rates of F-DNA hydrolysis in viral-infected as compared to uninfected nuclei.     

Differences in the N termini of herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 gDs that influence functional interactions with the human entry receptor Nectin-2 and an entry receptor expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Amino acid differences at seven positions in the N termini of the glycoproteins D (gDs) specified by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 are largely responsible for the significantly higher cell fusion activity of HSV-2 gD with Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing human nectin-2 or only an endogenous hamster receptor.     

Susceptibility of human female primary genital epithelial cells to herpes simplex virus, type-2 and the effect of TLR3 ligand and sex hormones on infection

Genital epithelial cells (ECs) are the first line of defense that sexually transmitted viruses encounter. The mechanism of viral pathogenesis in these cells is not well understood. Here, we show that a primary cell culture model from human reproductive tract tissues can be used as a novel ex vivo model in examining the interaction of herpes simplex virus, type 2 (HSV-2), with female genital mucosa. Confluent, polarized primary cultures of human endometrial and cervical ECs were established and shown to be free from any significant contamination of any other cell type. Both endometrial and cervical ECs were found to be highly susceptible to HSV-2 infection. The kinetic of infection was similar to in vivo infection, with the earliest viral shedding seen at 18 h postinfection. Primary EC monolayers could be infected both apically and basolaterally, but preferential viral shedding was seen on the apical side of cells. Following treatment of the monolayers with poly (I:C), an innate immune activator that acts via TLR3, viral shedding was reduced significantly, comparable to levels seen when an antiviral formulation, acyclovir, was used. Treatment of epithelial and stromal co-cultures with estradiol increased HSV-2 infection in endometrial ECs, but viral shedding decreased following treatment with progesterone. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that examines the interaction of primary human female genital ECs with HSV-2, using an ex vivo culture model. The results provide valuable information regarding the susceptibility of women's genital ECs to HSV-2 and the ability of innate immunity and hormones to modify this susceptibility.     

Virucidal effect of peppermint oil on the enveloped viruses herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 in vitro

The virucidal effect of peppermint oil, the essential oil of Mentha piperita, against herpes simplex virus was examined. The inhibitory activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) was tested in vitro on RC-37 cells using a plaque reduction assay. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of peppermint oil for herpes simplex virus plaque formation was determined at 0.002% and 0.0008% for HSV-1 and HSV-2, respectively. Peppermint oil exhibited high levels of virucidal activity against HSV-1 and HSV-2 in viral suspension tests. At noncytotoxic concentrations of the oil, plaque formation was significantly reduced by 82% and 92% for HSV-1 and HSV-2, respectively. Higher concentrations of peppermint oil reduced viral titers of both herpesviruses by more than 90%. A clearly time-dependent activity could be demonstrated, after 3 h of incubation of herpes simplex virus with peppermint oil an antiviral activity of about 99% could be demonstrated. In order to determine the mode of antiviral action of the essential oil, peppermint oil was added at different times to the cells or viruses during infection. Both herpesviruses were significantly inhibited when herpes simplex virus was pretreated with the essential oil prior to adsorption. These results indicate that peppermint oil affected the virus before adsorption, but not after penetration into the host cell. Thus this essential oil is capable to exert a direct virucidal effect on HSV. Peppermint oil is also active against an acyclovir resistant strain of HSV-1 (HSV-1-ACV(res)), plaque formation was significantly reduced by 99%. Considering the lipophilic nature of the oil which enables it to penetrate the skin, peppermint oil might be suitable for topical therapeutic use as virucidal agent in recurrent herpes infection.     

Herpes simplex virus-induced epithelial damage and susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in human cervical organ culture

Normal human premenopausal cervical tissue has been used to derive primary cell populations and to establish ex vivo organ culture systems to study infections with herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 or HSV-2) and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Infection with either HSV-1 or HSV-2 rapidly induced multinuclear giant cell formation and widespread damage in mucosal epithelial cells. Subsequent exposure of the damaged mucosal surfaces to HIV-1 revealed frequent co-localization of HSV and HIV-1 antigens. The short-term organ culture system provides direct experimental support for the epidemiological findings that pre-existing sexually transmitted infections, including primary and recurrent herpes virus infections at mucosal surfaces, represent major risk factors for acquisition of primary HIV-1 infection. Epithelial damage in combination with pre-existing inflammation, as described here for overtly normal human premenopausal cervix, creates a highly susceptible environment for the initiation and establishment of primary HIV-1 infection in the sub-mucosa of the cervical transformation zone.     

Frequency and Abundance of Alphaherpesvirus DNA in Human Thoracic Sympathetic Ganglia

Alphaherpesvirus reactivation from thoracic sympathetic ganglia (TSG) and transaxonal spread to target organs cause human visceral disease. Yet alphaherpesvirus latency in TSG has not been well characterized. In this study, quantitative PCR detected varicella-zoster virus (VZV), herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), and HSV-2 DNA in 117 fresh TSG obtained postmortem from 15 subjects. VZV DNA was found in 76 (65%) ganglia from all subjects, HSV-1 DNA was found in 5 (4%) ganglia from 3 subjects, and no HSV-2 was found.