Herpesviruses: latency and reactivation - viral strategies and host response

• Published in: Journal of Oral Microbiology Vol. 5; no. 1; pp. 22766 - 9
• Main Author: Grinde, Bjørn
• Format: Journal Article Book Review
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 01.01.2013; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Co-Action Publishing; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: Bacterial infections; Chicken pox; Cytomegalovirus; Epstein-Barr; Full text; Health care; herpes simplex; Herpes viruses; immune defense; Immune system; Infections; Influenza; Invited Review; Mental health; oral cavity; Pathology; Public health; reemergence; Vaccines; varicella zoster; Viral infections; viral pathology; Zoonoses; reemergence; viral pathology; Epstein–Barr; cytomegalovirus; varicella zoster; immune defense; oral cavity; herpes simplex
• ISSN: 2000-2297; 0901-8328; 2000-2297
• DOI: 10.3402/jom.v5i0.22766

Eight members of the Herpesviridae family commonly infect humans, and close to 100% of the adult population is infected with at least one of these. The five that cause the most health concerns are: herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 and 2, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and varicella zoster virus (VZV). In addition, there are human herpes virus (HHV) types 6-8. The review starts by introducing possible viral strategies in general. The particular biology and host relationship of the various human herpesviruses, including their pathology, are examined subsequently. Factors that contribute to the maintenance of latency and reactivation of viral replication are discussed. There will be special reference to how these viruses exploit and contribute to pathology in the oral cavity. Reactivation does not necessarily imply clinical symptoms, as reflected in the asymptomatic shedding of EBV and CMV from oral mucosa. The immune response and the level of viral output are both important to the consequences experienced.