Homo sapiens harbor two distinct, medically significant species of simplexviruses, herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 and HSV-2, with estimated divergence 6-8 million years ago (MYA). Unexpectedly, we found that circulating HSV-2 strains can contain HSV-1 DNA segments in three distinct genes. Using over 150 genital swabs from North and South America and Africa, we detected recombinants worldwide. Com...

BACKGROUND Few studies have evaluated the relationship between condom use and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and HSV type 1 (HSV-1) acquisition. OBJECTIVE To assess the relationship between condom use and acquisition of HSV-2 and HSV-1 among men and women. DESIGN Analysis of data collected as part of a clinical trial of an ineffective candidate vaccine for HSV-2. SETTING Sexually tra...

BACKGROUND Daily suppressive therapy with valacyclovir reduces risk of sexual transmission of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) in HSV-2-serodiscordant heterosexual couples by 48%. Whether suppressive therapy reduces HSV-2 transmission from persons coinfected with HSV-2 and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is unknown. METHODS Within a randomized trial of daily acyclovir 400 mg tw...

BACKGROUND The association between herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the development of HSV vaccines have increased interest in the study of HSV epidemiology. OBJECTIVES To estimate the age and sex specific seroprevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections in selected populations in Brazil, Estonia, India, Morocco, and Sri Lanka. METHODS Serum samples...

BACKGROUND Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2) are common human pathogens and might cause severe illness. Following primary infection, the viruses establish lifelong latent infection and are transmitted by close contact, both sexual and nonsexual. However, the information about the seroprevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 across all age groups is limited. METHODS Residual sera collecte...

BACKGROUND Despite increasing reports of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 (HSV-1)-associated anogenital herpes, there are very limited data comparing the seroepidemiological profile of and risk factors for HSV-1 and HSV type 2 (HSV-2) infection. METHODS Sexual behaviors were examined as risk factors for prevalent and incident HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections in a community-based cohort of 1,427 HI...

Abstract Background and Aims: The burden of HIV infection and disease continues to be a major global public health concern all over the world. This study was conducted to measure IgG antibody against EBV viral capsid antigen (EBV-VCA IgG), Herpes Simplex Type1, and 2 to determine the seroprevalence of this infection in HIV-positive population. Materials and Methods: A Cross-sectional st...

Using the T-REx (Invitrogen, California) gene switch technology and a dominant-negative mutant polypeptide of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1)-origin binding protein UL9, we previously constructed a glycoprotein D-expressing replication-defective and dominant-negative HSV-1 recombinant viral vaccine, CJ9-gD, for protection against HSV infection and disease. It was demonstrated that CJ9-gD is avir...

BACKGROUND The synergy between herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is well known, but lack of knowledge about the epidemiology of HSV-2 acquisition in HIV-1-discordant couples hampers development of HSV-2 prevention interventions that could reduce HIV-1 transmission. METHODS HIV-1-discordant couples were enrolled in Nairobi, Kenya, and followed ...

CONTEXT Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 are common infections worldwide. Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is the cause of most genital herpes and is almost always sexually transmitted. In contrast, HSV-1 is usually transmitted during childhood via nonsexual contacts. Preexisting HSV-1 antibodies can alleviate clinical manifestations of subsequently acquired HSV-2. Furthermore,...