Herpes is a common viral infection that causes painful blisters and ulcers. It is caused by herpes simplex virus -1 (HSV -1) and can cause flu -like symptoms, numbness, pain and irritation in affected areas. While the body’s immune system can press the virus, Dr. of the University of Virginia. A new study led by Anna Clif found that the herpes virus can kidnap the same immune system that fights it – restoration.

Herpes infection

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 60 percent of people under the age of 50 carry the herpes virus. Once the virus enters the body, it remains in nerve cells for life. Many people can never experience symptoms because the immune system keeps the virus inactive. However, some triggers such as stress, sunburn, infection, or a weaker immune system can flare it up, causing painful outbreaks.

Normal symptoms of ringworm

While some people with herpes cannot show symptoms, others may experience:

Pelvic

A blisters before appearing, tingling, itching, or irritation

Inflammatory lymph nodes

Symptoms like fever and flu

Numbness or nerve pain

The new research highlights the rear -cycle

Dr. from the Department of Microbiology of UVA, Department of Immunology and Cancer Biology. Anna Cliff, explains how the virus re -activates. He said, “Our findings identify the first viral proteins required for herpes simplex viruses, which to wake up from dormity, and surprisingly, this protein triggers reactions that should act against the virus. This is important because it gives us new ways to wake us up the virus and prevent immune responses from activating in the nervous system that can lead to negative results in long periods. ,

How the virus hijacks the immune system

The study was focused on a viral protein called ul12.5. Researchers found that this protein acts as a “double agent”. Instead of hiding from the immune system like most viruses, the herpes virus actually activates the body’s antiviral alarm. It then manipulates this alarm to re -activate itself inside the body.

Traditionally, the virus is known to avoid or suppress immune reactions to survive. However, this study suggests that HSV -1 does something different -it uses immune signals to detect stress in the body. When it feels cellular damage, infection, or other hazards, it takes it as a cue to reusion and spread in new hosts.

Researcher Patric Krakoviq told Studyfinds, “We were surprised to know that HSV -1 just doesn’t wait to reusion the right situations passively -it actively feels the danger and controls the process. Our findings suggest that the virus can use immune signals as a way to detect cellular stress – whether from neuron damage, infection or other threats – as a cue to avoid your hosts and find a new. ,

What does it mean for herpes treatment

This tremendous research challenges that scientists already knew how viruses and immune systems interact. Understanding how HSV -1 re -activates, can open new doors for treatment. If researchers may find ways to block viral protein UL12.5, they may be able to prevent herpes rear -cycle – reducing outbreaks and transmission.

As scientists continue to study the herpes virus, this discovery may pave the way for better treatment and possibly a vaccine in the future.

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