title: Stability of glycoprotein gene sequences of herpes simplex virus type 2 from primary to recurrent human infection, and diversity of the sequences among patients attending an STD clinic.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is sexually transmitted, leading to blisters and ulcers in the genito-anal region. After primary infection the virus is present in a latent state in neurons in sensory ganglia. Reactivation and production of new viral particles can cause asymptomatic viral shedding or new lesions. Establishment of latency, maintenance and reactivation involve silencing of genes, continuous suppression of gene activities and finally gene activation and synthesis of viral DNA. The purpose of the present work was to study the genetic stability of the virus during these events.
  
  
  METHODS
  HSV-2 was collected from 5 patients with true primary and recurrent infections, and the genes encoding glycoproteins B,G,E and I were sequenced.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No nucleotide substitution was observed in any patient, indicating genetic stability. However, since the total number of nucleotides in these genes is only a small part of the total genome, we cannot rule out variation in other regions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although infections of cell cultures and animal models are useful for studies of herpes simplex virus, it is important to know how the virus behaves in the natural host. We observed that several glycoprotein gene sequences are stable from primary to recurrent infection. However, the virus isolates from the different patients were genetically different.
authors: Department of Clinical Science, The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. lars.haarr@k2.uib.no.
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Haarr
authors: Arvid
authors: A
authors: Nilsen
authors: Per M
authors: PM
authors: Knappskog
authors: Nina
authors: N
authors: Langeland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D003141:Communicable Diseases; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000821:virology*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C044525:glycoprotein B, herpes simplex virus type 2; C048621:glycoprotein E, herpes simplex-virus type 2; C045464:glycoprotein G, herpes simplex virus type 2