What is Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) How does it propagate?
HSV is a large, double stranded DNA virus. All the programming of the virus ability to infect someone is contained in the DNA. The DNA is packaged in a diamond like protein structure, called an icosahedron. The virus also has an over coat, the envelope, which is necessary for the docking procedure when the virus infects a cell. In other words, an HSV particle without the envelope is not infectious, since it cannot enter the cell. How does HSV enter the body? The virus gains entry into the body, not through intact skin, but through mucous membranes, such as the oral region, vagina, tip of the penis, or the eye. The virus will first replicate (make copies of itself) inside surface cells at these sites, eventually killing the infected surface cells. In a person with normal immunity, the immune system is quickly mobilized to contain the primary infection. However, before this happens, the virus gains entry to the nerve cell end-plates (structures that help us to feel things like pain and t
