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Hammond SP, Rangaraju M, Sumner M, Timmler B, Chandrasekar P, Avery RK. A Multicenter Assessment of the Outcomes and Toxicities of Foscarnet for Treatment of Acyclovir-Resistant Mucocutaneous Herpes Simplex in Immunocompromised Patients. Open Forum Infect Dis 2024; 11:ofae046. [PMID: 38444818 PMCID: PMC10914364 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofae046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Acyclovir-resistant mucocutaneous herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is an uncommon problem typically seen in immunocompromised hosts. Systemic treatment options are limited. The performance of foscarnet and its toxicities in this population are poorly characterized. Methods This was a multicenter retrospective study of adults treated with foscarnet for HSV infection between January 2012 and December 2017. Relevant data were collected including demographics, baseline conditions, previous anti-HSV medications, concomitant medications, HSV outcomes, and adverse events. Acyclovir-resistant HSV infection was defined based on genotypic or phenotypic testing results; refractory infection was defined as infection not improving after 5 days of treatment-dosed antiviral therapy in those not tested for resistance. Results Twenty-nine patients had 31 episodes of HSV (15/18 resistant; among episodes without resistance testing, 7/10 refractory; 3 not evaluable) treated with foscarnet. All patients were immunocompromised including 19 (66%) with hematologic malignancy and 9 (31%) with HIV. Median duration of foscarnet was 16 days (range, 6-85 days). Fifteen episodes (48%) healed by the end of or after foscarnet. Median time to healing among those with resolution was 38 days (range, 9-1088 days). At least 1 adverse event during therapy was reported in 26 (84%) treatment episodes including 23 (74%) that were considered drug related. Common adverse events were electrolyte disturbance (20 [65%]) and kidney dysfunction (13 [42%]). Foscarnet was discontinued in 10 episodes (32%) due to an adverse event, including 6 due to kidney dysfunction. Conclusions Among 31 episodes of HSV treated with foscarnet, only half resolved with treatment, and adverse events were common.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah P Hammond
- Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Hematology/Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | | | - Pranatharthi Chandrasekar
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, Division of Infectious Diseases, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Robin K Avery
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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2
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Echenique JVZ, Gris AH, Camargo LJ, De Lorenzo C, Bertolini M, Barbosa FMS, Ansolch M, Canal CW, Panziera W, Pavarini SP, Sonne L. Fatal Simplexvirus humanalpha1 infection in howler-monkeys (Alouatta sp.) under human care: Clinical, molecular, and pathological findings. J Med Primatol 2023; 52:392-399. [PMID: 37602976 DOI: 10.1111/jmp.12670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Simplexvirus humanalpha1 (HuAHV-1) are common anthropozoonosis reported in marmosets but rare in howler monkeys (Alouatta sp.). METHODS Necropsy of two brown-howler monkeys (A. caraya) and one red-howler monkey (A. guariba clamitans) from different zoo collections were performed. Fragments of all organs were examined through microscopy. Samples were submitted to IHC for Simplexvirus humanalpha 2 (HuAHV-2) [sin. Herpesvirus simplex type 2] and PCR. RESULTS Grossly, only the A. guariba showed liver lesions characterized by multifocal, pinpoint white areas corresponding microscopically as random necrotizing herpetic hepatitis and ulcerative glossitis. Both A. caraya showed necrotizing meningoencephalitis with Cowdry A-type body inclusions within neurons and astrocytes. Immunolabeling for HuAHV-1/2 was observed in the tongue, liver, and brain. HuAHV-1 was confirmed in all samples by PCR, Sanger sequencing, and phylogenetic analyses. CONCLUSION Necrotizing meningoencephalitis was appreciated in 2/3 of animals, and it is associated with neurologic signs. Along with ulcerative glossitis, a hallmark lesion in marmosets, it was present in one animal. Regarding herpetic hepatitis, it is not frequent in monkeys and occurs mainly in immunocompromised animals. HuAHV-1 infection was confirmed corroborating with a human source. This is the second report on captive black-howler monkeys and the first gross, histologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular description of herpetic hepatitis and ulcerative glossitis in red-howler monkeys (A. guariba).
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna V Z Echenique
- Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Departamento de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Anderson H Gris
- Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Departamento de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Laura J Camargo
- Laboratório de Virologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Cíntia De Lorenzo
- Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Departamento de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marianna Bertolini
- Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Departamento de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Franscisca M S Barbosa
- Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Departamento de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Moira Ansolch
- Mantenedor de Fauna Arca de Noé (MFAN), Morro Reuter, Brazil
| | - Cláudio W Canal
- Laboratório de Virologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Welden Panziera
- Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Departamento de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Saulo P Pavarini
- Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Departamento de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Luciana Sonne
- Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Departamento de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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3
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Schalkwijk HH, Georgala A, Gillemot S, Temblador A, Topalis D, Wittnebel S, Andrei G, Snoeck R. A Herpes Simplex Virus 1 DNA Polymerase Multidrug Resistance Mutation Identified in a Patient With Immunodeficiency and Confirmed by Gene Editing. J Infect Dis 2023; 228:1505-1515. [PMID: 37224525 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Herpes simplex virus 1 can cause severe infections in individuals who are immunocompromised. In these patients, emergence of drug resistance mutations causes difficulties in infection management. METHODS Seventeen herpes simplex virus 1 isolates were obtained from orofacial/anogenital lesions in a patient with leaky severe combined immunodeficiency over 7 years, before and after stem cell transplantation. Spatial/temporal evolution of drug resistance was characterized genotypically-with Sanger and next-generation sequencing of viral thymidine kinase (TK) and DNA polymerase (DP)-and phenotypically. CRISPR/Cas9 was used to introduce the novel DP Q727R mutation, and dual infection-competition assays were performed to assess viral fitness. RESULTS Isolates had identical genetic backgrounds, suggesting that orofacial/anogenital infections derived from the same virus lineage. Eleven isolates proved heterogeneous TK virus populations by next-generation sequencing, undetectable by Sanger sequencing. Thirteen isolates were acyclovir resistant due to TK mutations, and the Q727R isolate additionally exhibited foscarnet/adefovir resistance. Recombinant Q727R mutant virus showed multidrug resistance and increased fitness under antiviral pressure. CONCLUSIONS Long-term follow-up of a patient with severe combined immunodeficiency revealed virus evolution and frequent reactivation of wild-type and TK mutant strains, mostly as heterogeneous populations. The DP Q727R resistance phenotype was confirmed with CRISPR/Cas9, a useful tool to validate novel drug resistance mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aspasia Georgala
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Jules Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels
| | - Sarah Gillemot
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven
| | - Arturo Temblador
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven
| | - Dimitri Topalis
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven
| | - Sebastian Wittnebel
- Department of Hematology, Jules Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Graciela Andrei
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven
| | - Robert Snoeck
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven
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Glasgow HL, Zhu H, Xie H, Kenkel EJ, Lee C, Huang ML, Greninger AL. Genotypic testing improves detection of antiviral resistance in human herpes simplex virus. J Clin Virol 2023; 167:105554. [PMID: 37586184 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2023.105554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antiviral resistance in human herpes simplex viruses (HSV) remains a significant clinical challenge in immunocompromised populations. Although molecular tests have largely replaced viral culture for HSV diagnosis and molecular antiviral resistance testing is available for many viruses, HSV resistance testing continues to rely on phenotypic, viral culture-based methods, requiring weeks for results. Consequently, treatment of suspected HSV resistance remains largely empiric. METHODS We used HSV whole genome sequencing and a database of previously characterized HSV acyclovir and foscarnet resistance mutations to evaluate the performance of genotypic antiviral resistance testing among 19 control strains compared to in-house plaque reduction assay (PRA) and 25 clinical isolates sent for reference lab PRA antiviral resistance testing. RESULTS Among control strains, 23/29 (79.3%) results were concordant, 5 (17.2%) were indeterminate, and 1 (3.4%) was discordant. Indeterminate results were caused by variants of uncertain significance (VUS), including mutations without published phenotypes and mutations with contradictory results. Among clinical isolates, 14/40 (35%) results were concordant, 17 (42.5%) were indeterminate, and 9 (22.5%) were discordant. All discordant results were in reportedly phenotypically-susceptible HSV-1 strains yet possessed resistance mutations. Three contained resistant subpopulations. 6/8 (75%) discordant phenotypes were concordant with resistant genotypes upon repeat PRA. CONCLUSIONS These data support the combination of genotypic and phenotypic testing to diagnose HSV resistance more accurately and likely more rapidly than phenotypic testing alone. Genotypic context of resistance mutations and the ability of viral strains to form plaques in culture may affect phenotypic resistance results, highlighting the limitations of PRA alone as a gold standard method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather L Glasgow
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States.
| | - Haiying Zhu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States
| | - Hong Xie
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States
| | - Elizabeth J Kenkel
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States
| | - Carrie Lee
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States
| | - Meei-Li Huang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States
| | - Alexander L Greninger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States
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5
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Dweikat SN, Renner DW, Bowen CD, Szpara ML. Multi-phenotype analysis for enhanced classification of 11 herpes simplex virus 1 strains. J Gen Virol 2022; 103:001780. [PMID: 36264606 PMCID: PMC10019087 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) is best known for causing oral lesions and mild clinical symptoms, but it can produce a significant range of disease severities and rates of reactivation. To better understand this phenotypic variation, we characterized 11 HSV1 strains that were isolated from individuals with diverse infection outcomes. We provide new data on genomic and in vitro plaque phenotype analysis for these isolates and compare these data to previously reported quantitation of the disease phenotype of each strain in a murine animal model. We show that integration of these three types of data permitted clustering of these HSV1 strains into four groups that were not distinguishable by any single dataset alone, highlighting the benefits of combinatorial multi-parameter phenotyping. Two strains (group 1) produced a partially or largely syncytial plaque phenotype and attenuated disease phenotypes in mice. Three strains of intermediate plaque size, causing severe disease in mice, were genetically clustered to a second group (group 2). Six strains with the smallest average plaque sizes were separated into two subgroups (groups 3 and 4) based on their different genetic clustering and disease severity in mice. Comparative genomics and network graph analysis suggested a separation of HSV1 isolates with attenuated vs. virulent phenotypes. These observations imply that virulence phenotypes of these strains may be traceable to genetic variation within the HSV1 population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah N Dweikat
- Department of Biology, University Park, USA.,Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, USA
| | - Daniel W Renner
- Department of Biology, University Park, USA.,Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, USA
| | - Christopher D Bowen
- Department of Biology, University Park, USA.,Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, USA
| | - Moriah L Szpara
- Department of Biology, University Park, USA.,Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA
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6
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Chang A, Sholukh AM, Wieland A, Jaye DL, Carrington M, Huang ML, Xie H, Jerome KR, Roychoudhury P, Greninger AL, Koff JL, Cohen JB, Koelle DM, Corey L, Flowers CR, Ahmed R. Herpes simplex virus lymphadenitis is associated with tumor reduction in a chronic lymphocytic leukemia patient. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:161109. [PMID: 35862190 PMCID: PMC9479599 DOI: 10.1172/jci161109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Herpes simplex virus lymphadenitis (HSVL) is an unusual presentation of HSV reactivation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients characterized by systemic symptoms and no herpetic lesions. The immune responses during HSVL have not been studied. METHODS Peripheral blood and lymph node samples of a patient with HSVL were obtained. HSV-2 viral load, antibody levels, B and T cell responses, cytokine levels, and tumor burden were measured. RESULTS This patient showed HSV-2 viremia for at least 6 weeks. During this period, she had a robust HSV-specific antibody response with neutralizing and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis activity. Activated (HLA-DR+, CD38+) CD4+ and CD8+ T cells increased 18-fold and HSV-specific CD8+ T cells were detected in the blood at higher numbers. HSV-specific B and T cell responses in the lymph node were also detected. Markedly elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the blood were also observed. Surprisingly, a sustained decrease in CLL tumor burden without CLL-directed therapy was observed with this and also a prior episode of HSVL. CONCLUSION HSVL should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis in CLL patients who present with signs and symptoms of aggressive lymphoma transformation. An interesting finding was the sustained tumor control after 2 episodes of HSVL in this patient. This tumor burden reduction may be due to the HSV-specific response serving as an adjuvant for activating tumor-specific or bystander T cells. Studies in additional CLL patients are needed to confirm and extend these findings. FUNDING National Institutes of Health and Winship Cancer Institute.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andres Chang
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, United States of America
| | - Anton M Sholukh
- Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, United States of America
| | - Andreas Wieland
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, United States of America
| | - David L Jaye
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, United States of America
| | - Mary Carrington
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Meei-Li Huang
- University of Washington, Seattle, United States of America
| | - Hong Xie
- Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, United States of America
| | - Keith R Jerome
- Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, United States of America
| | - Pavitra Roychoudhury
- Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, United States of America
| | - Alexander L Greninger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, United States of America
| | - Jean L Koff
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, United States of America
| | - Jonathon B Cohen
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, United States of America
| | - David M Koelle
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, United States of America
| | - Lawrence Corey
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, United States of America
| | - Christopher R Flowers
- Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, United States of America
| | - Rafi Ahmed
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, United States of America
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7
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Rathbun MM, Shipley MM, Bowen CD, Selke S, Wald A, Johnston C, Szpara ML. Comparison of herpes simplex virus 1 genomic diversity between adult sexual transmission partners with genital infection. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010437. [PMID: 35587470 PMCID: PMC9119503 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes chronic infection in the human host, characterized by self-limited episodes of mucosal shedding and lesional disease, with latent infection of neuronal ganglia. The epidemiology of genital herpes has undergone a significant transformation over the past two decades, with the emergence of HSV-1 as a leading cause of first-episode genital herpes in many countries. Though dsDNA viruses are not expected to mutate quickly, it is not yet known to what degree the HSV-1 viral population in a natural host adapts over time, or how often viral population variants are transmitted between hosts. This study provides a comparative genomics analysis for 33 temporally-sampled oral and genital HSV-1 genomes derived from five adult sexual transmission pairs. We found that transmission pairs harbored consensus-level viral genomes with near-complete conservation of nucleotide identity. Examination of within-host minor variants in the viral population revealed both shared and unique patterns of genetic diversity between partners, and between anatomical niches. Additionally, genetic drift was detected from spatiotemporally separated samples in as little as three days. These data expand our prior understanding of the complex interaction between HSV-1 genomics and population dynamics after transmission to new infected persons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly M. Rathbun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Mackenzie M. Shipley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Christopher D. Bowen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Stacy Selke
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, United States of America
| | - Anna Wald
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Christine Johnston
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Moriah L. Szpara
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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8
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Abstract
Herpes simplex viruses (HSV) cause chronic infection in humans that are characterized by periodic episodes of mucosal shedding and ulcerative disease. HSV causes millions of infections world-wide, with lifelong bouts of viral reactivation from latency in neuronal ganglia. Infected individuals experience different levels of disease severity and frequency of reactivation. There are two distantly related HSV species, with HSV-1 infections historically found most often in the oral niche and HSV-2 infections in the genital niche. Over the last two decades, HSV-1 has emerged as the leading cause of first-episode genital herpes in multiple countries. While HSV-1 has the highest level of genetic diversity among human alpha-herpesviruses, it is not yet known how quickly the HSV-1 viral population in a human host adapts over time, or if there are population bottlenecks associated with viral reactivation and/or transmission. It is also unknown how the ecological environments in which HSV infections occur influence their evolutionary trajectory, or that of co-occurring viruses and microbes. In this review, we explore how HSV accrues genetic diversity within each new infection, and yet maintains its ability to successfully infect most of the human population. A holistic examination of the ecological context of natural human infections can expand our awareness of how HSV adapts as it moves within and between human hosts, and reveal the complexity of these lifelong human-virus interactions. These insights may in turn suggest new areas of exploration for other chronic pathogens that successfully evolve and persist among their hosts.
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