Questions On The Cold Sore Frenzy

     Herpes, from the ancient Greek meaning to creep or crawl, is the name of a family of viruses of which herpes simplex virus 1 and herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) are the most serious human pathogens. HSV-1 is normally associated with orofacial infections and encephalitis, whereas HSV-2 usually causes genital infections and can be transmitted from infected mothers to neonates. Both viruses establish latent infections in sensory neurons and, upon reactivation, cause lesions at or near point of entry into the body.

     Most often herpes is a relatively harmless disease that is rarely life threatening. The most common form of herpes is oral herpes and usually shows up on the lips or inside of the mouth as “cold sores” or “fever blisters”.

When the herpes simplex virus infection becomes active again, symptoms such as burning or stinging pain at the affected site is common, followed by pink bumps and small blisters. The blisters dry quickly and crust over, and the areas heal within a few days. Repeated attacks occur in roughly the same place each time.

Viruses are microscopic particles that invade and take over both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. They consist of two structures, which are the nucleic acid and capsid. The nucleic acid contains all genetic material in the form of DNA or RNA, and is enclosed in the capsid, which is the protein coating that helps the virus attach to and penetrate the host cell. In some cases, certain viruses have a membrane surrounding the capsid, called an envelope. This structure allows viruses to become more stealthy and protected. There are two cycles in which a virus can go into: lytic and lysogenic. The lytic cycle consists of the virus attaching to a cell, injecting its DNA, and creating more viruses, which proceed to destroy the host. On the other hand, the lysogenic cycle includes the virus attaching to the cell, injecting its DNA, which combines with the cell’s DNA in order for it to become provirus. Then, the provirus DNA may eventually switch to the lytic cycle and destroy the host.

The Herpes simplex virus or HSV is a member of the herpes virus family. HSV

RSV belongs to the paramyxovirus family of viruses. The virion encompasses a helical nucleocapsid packaged in a lipoprotein envelope attained from the host cell plasma membrane during budding. The external surface of the envelope contains a periphery of surface spikes.

The virus fuses with the cell’s plasma membrane. The capsid proteins are removed, releasing the viral proteins and RNA. Reverse transcriptase catalyzes the synthesis of a DNA strand complementary to the viral RNA. Reverse transcriptase catalyzes the synthesis of a second DNA strand complementary to the first. The double-stranded DNA is incorporated as a provirus into the cell’s DNA. Proviral genes are transcribed into RNA molecules, which serve as genomes for the next viral generation and as mRNAs for translation into viral proteins. The viral proteins include capsid proteins and reverse transcriptase (made in the cytosol) and envelope glycoproteins (made in the ER). Vesicles transport the glycoproteins from the ER to the cell’s plasma membrane. Capsids are assembled around viral genomes and reverse transcriptase molecules. New viruses bud off from the host cell.

Don’t wait to administer the cold sore home remedies after your blisters break out heavily. Start using the remedies when you notice the tingling feeling.

Genital herpes is reported as a "common and highly contagious infection usually spread through sex." (WebMD, 2012) Herpes is an infection resulting from the herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) which is similar to herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) which is the virus that causes cold sores. Individuals infected with the herpes virus have recurrent outbreaks in fact 90% of individuals infected with the herpes virus report repeated outbreaks with some reporting only two outbreaks each year. However, some individuals report up to eight outbreaks per year with the herpes virus. (Shiel, 2011, p.1)

Herpes is a sexually transmitted virus which, in many cases, has no symptoms. This causes many people not to be aware that they have been infected and do nothing to avoid infection. At other times, herpes itself produces symptoms such as blisters or ulcers of varying severity.

Herpes simplex 1 also known as oral herpes, it's scientific name is simplex virus. Herpes simplex 1 is a bacterial disease. Herpes simplex 1 is passed with children if the parents carry it. This type can also be carried by kissing, drinking from the same cup from a person that carries it, and any other physical contact with someone that carries it. The cause of the disease can be found on/in the mouth. HSV-1 has a few types of functions: cold sores and/or fever blisters around the mouth and on the face. HSV-1 can be spread much faster when an infected person is having an outbreak. The disease can be spread to any age group, especially if you -have a weekend immune system, having multiple sex partners, being a female, having another sexually transmitted infections- this also goes for Herpes simplex 2 (HSV-2).

HSV is a human nuclear DNA virus that can replicate in many different species of animal as well as in many different types of cells. It can gain access to different types of cells due to its 12 envelope surface glycoproteins and uses the heparan moiety of the receptors to attach to cells

Some viruses also have an outer bag of lipo-protein called an envelope. After a virus attaches to a living cell, it either enters the cell to release the genetic information, or, the virus injects the information through the cells outer lining. Thus changing the cells natural functions and forcing the cell to spend its energy to create copies of the virus. The cell will go on making copies of the virus until the cell is used up and dies. The virus then leaves the dead cell and invades a nearby cell and the process starts all over. There are five types of human herpes virus: Varicella zoster which causes chickenpox, Epstein Barr virus which causes infectious mononucleosis, cytomegalovirus which can cause cytomegalic inclusion disease in infants, and herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2.

This little package of mayhem consists of relatively few parts. A virus is simply a protein capsule called a capsid, sometimes surrounded by an envelope, containing a genome. The genome consists of nucleic acids arranged as DNA or less commonly, RNA. Dozens of variants of this fundamental arrangement exist with differences in the structure of the capsule and the arrangement of the genome. Small differences or changes in these components allow some viruses to continue to outmaneuver researchers, while millions of dollars are spent trying to understand and eliminate them.

Figure 1 : Please note : by accident we added HSV-2 to tube 1 instead of HSV-1 but later we modified the PCR machine as the new order.