Cold sores are caused by a herpes virus, most often the herpes simplex 1 virus. Cold sores should not be confused with canker sores, which are small ulcerations in the mouth. Rather, cold sores are fluid-filled blisters that form on the gums and the outside of the mouth and lips. The blisters, which are contagious, later break, ooze, and crust over before healing. Recurrences are common and can...

Purified herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase has been used to immunize mice for the production of monoclonal antibodies to the enzyme. Monoclonal antibodies were successfully produced against both herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 enzymes. These antibodies should prove useful for detecting the enzyme under a variety of experimental conditions. We also demonstrate that the antibodies can ...

Many microorganisms encode immune evasion molecules to escape host defenses. Herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein gC is an immunoevasin that inhibits complement activation by binding complement C3b. gC is expressed on the virus envelope and infected cell surface, which makes gC potentially accessible to blocking antibodies. Mice passively immunized with gC monoclonal antibodies prior to inf...

Trigeminal neuritis usually is caused by an inflammatory reaction to herpes simplex virus, which often resides within the gasserian ganglion of the trigeminal nerve. Transaxonal movement of the virus between the ganglion and peripheral nerves within the oral cavity has been documented [1 , 2]. The virus can be isolated from the painful aphthous ulcers within the oral cavity and the typical cold...

Nongenital herpes simplex virus type 1 is a common infection usually transmitted during childhood via nonsexual contact. Most of these infections involve the oral mucosa or lips (herpes labialis). The diagnosis of an infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 is usually made by the appearance of the lesions (grouped vesicles or ulcers on an erythematous base) and patient history. However, if un...

There are six herpes viruses, three of which, the varicella-zoster virus and the herpes simplex viruses types 1 and 2, are of particular concern to patients and staff in critical care units. These viruses, especially in their reactivated states, may present atypically in critically ill and immune-suppressed patients, and, by the time the diagnosis is made, exposures of other patients and clinic...

The in vitro susceptibility to acyclovir of 204 herpes simplex virus isolates from 165 immunocompromised patients treated at our hospital was determined by the cytopathic effect reduction assay. Approximately 95% of herpes simplex virus 1 and 73% of herpes simplex virus 2 isolates were inhibited by acyclovir at concentrations of <2 microgram/mL. From 8 patients (5%), an isolate with low suscept...

As one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, genital herpes is a global medical problem with significant physical and psychological morbidity. Genital herpes is caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 or type 2 and can manifest as primary and/or recurrent infection. This manuscript provides an overview about the fundamental knowledge on the virus, its epidemiology, and infection. Furt...