The type 1 and type 2 herpes simplex viruses can cause severe genital infection. When someone first gets genital herpes, it is impossible to tell from the signs and symptoms whether the infection is due to the type 1 or the type 2 virus. There is, however, a marked difference in the incidence and frequency of recurrent genital infections caused by these two viruses. The type 1 virus is sometimes viewed as the better of the two, because many people with primary genital type 1 infection never have recurrent infections, and those who do generally have only occasional outbreaks.
The type 2 virus is far less kind. Most people with primary genital type 2 herpes do have recurrences, in many
cases frequently. Both type 1 and type 2 viruses also produce similar primary infections of the mouth, but recurrent fever blisters are almost always caused by the type 1 virus. Because both viruses are capable of establishing latent infection in sensory nerve cells, it is likely that the two viruses have developed specialized properties that allow them to reactivate more easily in a particular anatomic site—the type 1 virus in the face and the type 2 virus in the genital area. Recent animal studies using genetically engineered viruses showed that the latency associated transcript region of the virus appears to determine the type-specific, site-specific reactivation pattern. Experiments showed that putting the type 1 LAT region in a type 2 virus caused the virus to behave like a type 1 virus. Scientists are now trying to understand how this region controls recurrent
disease with the hope that the information can be used to develop new therapies for better control of recurrent herpes infections.in the incidence and frequency of recurrent genital infections caused by these two viruses.
The type 2 virus is far less kind. Most people with primary genital type 2 herpes do have recurrences, in many
cases frequently. Both type 1 and type 2 viruses also produce similar primary infections of the mouth, but recurrent fever blisters are almost always caused by the type 1 virus. Because both viruses are capable of establishing latent infection in sensory nerve cells, it is likely that the two viruses have developed specialized properties that allow them to reactivate more easily in a particular anatomic site—the type 1 virus in the face and the type 2 virus in the genital area. Recent animal studies using genetically engineered viruses showed that the latency associated transcript region of the virus appears to determine the type-specific, site-specific reactivation pattern. Experiments showed that putting the type 1 LAT region in a type 2 virus caused the virus to behave like a type 1 virus. Scientists are now trying to understand how this region controls recurrent
disease with the hope that the information can be used to develop new therapies for better control of recurrent herpes infections.in the incidence and frequency of recurrent genital infections caused by these two viruses.
The type 1 virus is sometimes viewed as the better of the two, because many people with primary genital type 1 infection never have recurrent infections, and those who do generally have only occasional outbreaks.
The type 2 virus is far less kind. Most people with primary genital type 2 herpes do have recurrences, in many
cases frequently. Both type 1 and type 2 viruses also produce similar primary infections of the mouth, but recurrent fever blisters are almost always caused by the type 1 virus. Because both viruses are capable of establishing latent infection in sensory nerve cells, it is likely that the two viruses have developed specialized properties that allow them to reactivate more easily in a particular anatomic site—the type 1 virus in the face and the type 2 virus in the genital area. Recent animal studies using genetically engineered viruses showed that the latency associated transcript region of the virus appears to determine the type-specific, site-specific reactivation pattern. Experiments showed that putting the type 1 LAT region in a type 2 virus caused the virus to behave like a type 1 virus. Scientists are now trying to understand how this region controls recurrent disease with the hope that the information can be used to develop new therapies for better control of recurrent herpes infections.
The type 2 virus is far less kind. Most people with primary genital type 2 herpes do have recurrences, in many
cases frequently. Both type 1 and type 2 viruses also produce similar primary infections of the mouth, but recurrent fever blisters are almost always caused by the type 1 virus. Because both viruses are capable of establishing latent infection in sensory nerve cells, it is likely that the two viruses have developed specialized properties that allow them to reactivate more easily in a particular anatomic site—the type 1 virus in the face and the type 2 virus in the genital area. Recent animal studies using genetically engineered viruses showed that the latency associated transcript region of the virus appears to determine the type-specific, site-specific reactivation pattern. Experiments showed that putting the type 1 LAT region in a type 2 virus caused the virus to behave like a type 1 virus. Scientists are now trying to understand how this region controls recurrent disease with the hope that the information can be used to develop new therapies for better control of recurrent herpes infections.