Herpes simplex virus and t cells

Background The variation in infection risk among individuals is thought to be partially influenced by occupational factors. This study aims to investigate the seropositivity rates of 17 common infectious agents in male airline pilots (APs), a professional group known to experience a high prevalence of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases. Methodology In our study, we employed a case-control design with 100 male APs as cases, matched by age, sex, and tenure (i.e., at least five years of service) to 100 male office workers (OWs) who served as controls...

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection, which is almost exclusively sexually transmitted, causes genital herpes. Although this lifelong and incurable infection is extremely widespread, currently there is no readily available diagnostic device that accurately detects HSV-2 antigens to a satisfactory degree. Here, we report an ultrasensitive electrochemical device that detects HSV-2 antigens within 9 min and costs just $1 (USD) to manufacture. The electrochemical biosensor is biofunctionalized with the human cellular receptor nectin-1 and detects the glycoprotein gD2, which is present within the HSV-2 viral envelope...

A review of the association between microbes and mental illness is performed, including the history, relevant definitions, infectious agents associated with mental illnesses, complex interactive infections, total load theory, pathophysiology, psychoimmunology, psychoneuroimmunology, clinical presentations, early-life infections, clinical assessment, and treatment. Perspectives on the etiology of mental illness have evolved from demonic possession toward multisystem biologically based models that include gene expression, environmental triggers, immune mediators, and infectious diseases...

The herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a double-stranded DNA human virus that causes persistent infections with recurrent outbreaks. HSV exists in two forms: HSV-1, responsible for oral herpes, and HSV-2, primarily causing genital herpes. Both types can lead to significant complications, including neurological issues. Conventional treatment, involving acyclovir and its derivatives, faces challenges due to drug resistance. This underscores the imperative for continual research and development of new drugs, with a particular emphasis on exploring the potential of natural antivirals...

The development of effective cancer vaccines remains a significant challenge due to immune tolerance and limited clinical benefits. Oncolytic herpes simplex virus type 1 (oHSV-1) has shown promise as a cancer therapy, but efficacy is often limited in advanced cancers. In this study, we constructed and characterized a novel oHSV-1 virus (VG22401) expressing the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), a transmembrane glycoprotein overexpressed in many carcinomas. VG22401 exhibited efficient replication and HER2 payload expression in both human and mouse colorectal cancer cells...

BACKGROUND: To date, there is no licensed vaccine for preventing herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). The current treatment to address the infection and prevent its transmission is not always satisfactory. METHODS: We constructed two recombinant vectors, one encoding HSV-2 glycoprotein D (gD, SeV-dF/HSV-2-gD) and one encoding HSV-2-infected cell protein 27 (ICP27, SeV-dF/HSV-2-ICP27), based on a replication-defective Sendai virus through reverse genetics, collectively comprising a combinatorial HSV-2 therapeutic vaccine candidate...

How therapeutically administered myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) modulate differentiation of virus-specific CD8+ T cell during virus infection was investigated. In vitro generated MDSCs from bone marrow precursors inhibited the expansion of stimulated CD8+ T cells but the effector cells in the recipients of MDSCs showed preferential memory transition during Influenza A virus (IAV) or an α- (Herpes Simplex Virus) as well as a γ- (murine herpesvirus 68) herpesvirus infection. Memory CD8+ T cells thus generated constituted a heterogenous population with a large fraction showing effector memory (CD62Llo CCR7- ) phenotype...

Herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSE) is the leading cause of non-epidemic encephalitis in the developed world and, despite antiviral therapy, mortality and morbidity is high. The emergence of post-HSE autoimmune encephalitis (AE) reveals a new immunological paradigm in autoantibody-mediated disease. A reductionist evaluation of the immunobiological mechanisms in HSE is crucial to dissect the origins of post-viral autoimmunity and supply rational approaches to the selection of immunotherapeutics. Herein, we review the latest evidence behind the phenotypic progression and underlying immunobiology of HSE including the cytokine/chemokine environment, the role of pathogen-recognition receptors, T- and B-cell immunity and relevant inborn errors of immunity...

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) has been known as a common viral pathogen that can infect several parts of the body, leading to various clinical manifestations. According to this diverse manifestation, HSV-1 infection in many cell types was demonstrated. Besides the HSV-1 cell tropism, e.g., fibroblast, epithelial, mucosal cells, and neurons, HSV-1 infections can occur in human T lymphocyte cells, especially in activated T cells. In addition, several studies found that actin polymerization and filopodia formation support HSV-1 infection in diverse cell types...

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) has proven successful in treating human cancer. Since the approval of talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) in 2015, HSV has been thoroughly researched to discover novel mechanisms to combat cancer and treat other diseases. Another HSV-based drug, beremagene geperpavec (B-VEC), received approval in 2023 to treat the rare genetic disease dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, and was also the first clinically approved HSV vector carrying an extracellular matrix (ECM)-modifying transgene. The ECM is a network of macromolecules surrounding cells, which provides support and regulates cell growth and differentiation, the disruption of which is common in cancer...

Herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) is a common blinding corneal disease caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection. Antiviral drugs and corticosteroids haven't shown adequate therapeutic efficacy. During the early stages of HSV-1 infection, macrophages serve as the first line of defense. In particular, CD169+ macrophages play an important role in phagocytosis and antigen presentation. Therefore, we constructed GM-gD-lip, a ganglioside GM1 liposome vaccine encapsulating HSV-1 glycoprotein D and targeting CD169+ macrophages...

Rationale: Immuno-virotherapy has emerged as a promising approach for cancer treatment, as it directly and cytotoxically eliminates tumors with systemic immune stimulation. However, the clinical efficacy of this approach remains limited by inappropriate delivery routes, robust antiviral responses, and the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment. Methods: To address these challenges, we propose a surface engineering strategy that masks oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) with a galactose-polyethylene-glycol (PEG) polymer chain to minimize host antiviral responses and selectively targets tumors by limiting exposure to circulation upon systemic administration...

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) protein immediate early-infected cell protein (ICP)47 inhibits the transporter associated with antigen presentation, thereby concealing infected cells from the CD8+ T-cell response in humans. By contrast, in mouse cells, ICP47 was found to be ineffective in vitro , despite some evidence for a role of this protein in vivo , specifically in the nervous system. Recent evidence suggests that the promoter that drives ICP47 might be active in the establishment of latency and during latency, leading to the possibility that a role might be found in protecting neurons that are latently infected with HSV from T-cell attack...

(1) Background: Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) has been recognized as a flavonoid showing antiviral activity against various types of DNA and RNA viruses. In this work, we tested if EGCG-modified silver nanoparticles (EGCG-AgNPs) can become novel microbicides with additional adjuvant properties to treat herpes infections. (2) Methods: The anti-HSV and cytotoxic activities of EGCG-AgNPs were tested in human HaCaT and VK-2-E6/E7 keratinocytes. HSV-1/2 titers and immune responses after treatment with EGCG-AgNPs were tested in murine models of intranasal HSV-1 infection and genital HSV-2 infection...

BACKGROUND: Oncolytic viruses are now well recognized as potential immunotherapeutic agents against cancer. However, the first FDA-approved oncolytic herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), T-VEC, showed limited benefits in some patients in clinical trials. Thus, the identification of novel oncolytic viruses that can strengthen oncolytic virus therapy is warranted. Here, we identified a live-attenuated swine pseudorabies virus (PRV-LAV) as a promising oncolytic agent with broad-spectrum antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo...

BACKGROUND: Peripheral facial palsy (PFP) is a common neurologic symptom which can be triggered by pathogens, autoimmunity, trauma, tumors, cholesteatoma or further local conditions disturbing the peripheral section of the nerve. In general, its cause is often difficult to identify, remaining unknown in over two thirds of cases. As we have previously shown that the quantity and quality of pathogen-specific T cells change during active infections, we hypothesized that such changes may also help to identify the causative pathogen in PFPs of unknown origin...

Life-long persistent herpesviruses carry "trans-inducers" to overcome the unusual codon usage of their glycoproteins for efficient expression. Strikingly, this "trans-inducibility" can be achieved by simply changing the codon-usage of acute virus glycoproteins to that of persistent herpesvirus glycoproteins with herpesviral trans-inducer. Here, we apply the "persistent viral codon-usage-trans-inducer" principle to SARS-CoV-2 Spike mRNA vaccine platform, in which the codon-usage of Spike is changed to that of Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein B (gB) with its "trans-inducer" ICP27...

Numerous studies have now implicated a role for inflammation in schizophrenia. However, many aspects surrounding this aspect of the disease are still controversial. This controversy has been driven by conflicting evidence on the role of both pro-and anti-inflammatory factors and by often contentious findings concerning cytokine and immune cell profiles in the central nervous system and periphery. Current evidence supports the point that interleukin-6 is elevated in CSF, but does not support activation of microglia, resident macrophage-like cells in the brain...

Oncolytic viral immunotherapies are agents which can directly kill tumor cells and activate an immune response. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) range from native/unmodified viruses to genetically modified, attenuated viruses with the capacity to preferentially replicate in and kill tumors, leaving normal tissue unharmed. Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) is the only OV approved for patient use in the United States; however, during the last 20 years, there have been a substantial number of clinical trials using OV immunotherapies across a broad range of cancers...

A novel therapeutic regimen showed that the oncolytic type II herpes simplex virus (oHSV2) was able to prevent colorectal cancer growth, recurrence, and metastasis. However, no study has yet explored whether oHSV2 has an impact on the development of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We chose the clinical chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX) as a positive control to evaluate the effect of oHSV2 infection on the apoptotic, invasive, and proliferative capacity of DLBCL cells. We next further explored the therapeutic efficacy of oncolytic virus oHSV2 or DOX in DLBCL tumor bearing BALB/c mice, and evaluated the infiltration of CD8 + T cells and CD4 + T cells in tumor tissues...