Vical are reported to be making progress with their immunotherapeutic vaccine. An immunotherapeutic vaccine is one which provides immunity for those who do not carry herpes, as well as treatment for the majority of the population who already do.
One of the investigators, Dr David Koelle said, “We are encouraged that the CD8 T-cell responses observed in mice after DNA vaccination matched those observed after natural HSV-2 infection, suggesting that the appropriate tegument protein epitopes together with surface glycoproteins may provide interventional vaccine opportunities.”
“We believe these responses may be important in …

Meet The Scientist has a fascinating interview with David Knipe of Harvard University. Knipe is developing a vaccine against HSV-2.
Knipe discusses the challenges that researchers have faced in developing a vaccine against the virus, and explains why his new vaccine may be an answer. Knipe’s vaccine has been shown to protect animals who are yet to be exposed to the virus, and also reduce symptomatic disease in those who are already carrying the virus. Acambis are now developing the vaccine for clinical trials in humans.
Knipe also talks about the …

Some herpes carriers will be familiar with drugs like acyclovir and Valtrex. Both are antiviral drugs based on the same chemical. Both are used to control herpes. But it may surprise you to learn the basic ingredients of acyclovir-based antivirals have remained unchanged for more than twenty years, and in that time no commercially available drug has significantly improved on the original formula designed by Nobel-prize-winning biochemist Gertrude B. Elion.
Although acyclovir is an impressive drug with few side-effects, it is far from perfect. Carriers can still transmit herpes while taking …

We’ve already covered this scientific development, but the LA Times take on it is worth a look. The story concerns the viral protein VP16, which scientists now think is produced before the herpes virus can leave the human nerve cell and cause any visible symptoms. If a drug can be produced to block production of this protein, it could mean an end to herpes symptoms. The LA Times have nominated the mice involved in the study as “rodent[s] of the week”.
“This completely changes our thinking about how this virus reactivates …

The herpes virus is carried by as many as 90% of people in most populations. The virus inserts itself into nerve structures in the human skin, where it stays for the entire lifetime of the carrier. Some people get regular coldsores, many people get just one, and the majority of people have no symptoms at all.
Scientists have now discovered that a viral protein called VP16 provokes herpes into causing visible coldsores. When this protein is created by a nerve cell that carries herpes, it causes the virus to make …

Scientists at the Johns Hopkins medical school have discovered a protein that is essential for the assembly of the Epstein-Barr virus, an important advance that might help researchers design new antiviral drugs to treat EBV and other related herpesviruses.
A team at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, led by virologist Prashant Desai, has been studying capsids, the protein shell of viruses. “Most of our studies have been on herpes simplex virus capsids,” Desai said.
“The herpesvirus capsids are made up of six proteins that interact together to produce an icosahedral structure. …

Canadian and U.S. researchers have identified a cellular process that seeks out and fights type 1 herpes simplex — cold sores. The five-year study, a joint project with the University of Montreal, Washington University and Pennsylvania State University, found that the nuclear membrane of an infected cell can unmask type 1 herpes simplex and stimulate the immune system to disintegrate the virus
“Once human cells are infected with Type 1 herpes simplex, the virus comes back because it hides and blocks protection from our immune system,” lead author Luc English, a …