[Recently discovered herpes viruses explain the etiology of well-known diseases].
Three new members of the family of human herpesviruses (HHVs) have been identified in less than a decade, HHV 6 7 and 8. HHV-6 and HHV-7, both infecting T-lymphocytes and phylogenetically related to cytomegalovirus, were identified as causative agents of exanthema subitum. In addition, HHV-6 has been reported to manifest central nervous system tropism and to be frequently detected in normal brain tissue, but has also been associated with febrile seizures. HHV-7 has been suggested to be involved in the development of pityriasis rosea, but has also been found to occur in normal dermal tissue. HHV-8, related to Epstein-Barr virus and infecting B-lymphocytes, was the first herpesvirus to be identified with molecular techniques. Recent research has been focused on the involvement of proteins expressed by HHV-8 in the pathogenesis of two rare tumours, Kaposi's sarcoma and body-cavity B-cell lymphomas.
Bergström
T
T
Virologiska laboratoriet Sahlgrenska Universitetssjukhuset, Göteborg. tomas.bergström@microbio.gu.se
D005077:Exanthema Subitum / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D005334:Fever / Q000821:virology; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016199:Herpesvirus 7, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000821:virology; D017515:Pityriasis Rosea / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000821:virology