1) List of STD's

Commonly known STD's are:

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) Genital Warts Gonorhea Syphylis Herpes Chlamydia Pubic Lice or Crabs Vaginitis Hepatitis

2) The herpes simplex virus

The herpes simplex virus, or cold sore virus, is highly contagious. It can be passed from person to person by close direct contact. Once someone has been exposed to the virus, most of the time it remains dormant (inactive). However, every so often the virus is activated by certain triggers, causing an outbreak of cold sores. The triggers that cause cold sores vary from person to person. Some people have frequently recurring cold sores, for example two or three times a year, while others will have just one cold sore and then never have another. Some people may never get cold sores at all because the virus never becomes active.

Herpes is an infection that is caused by a herpes simplex virus (HSV). Oral herpes causes cold sores around the mouth or face. Genital herpes affects the genitals, buttocks or anal area. Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). You can get it from having sex, even oral sex. The virus can spread even when sores are not present. Mothers can also infect their babies during childbirth. Some people have no symptoms. Others get sores near the area where the virus has entered the body. They turn into blisters, become itchy and painful, and then heal. The virus can be dangerous in newborn babies or in people with weak immune systems. Most people have outbreaks several times a year. Over time, you get them less often. Medicines to help your body fight the virus can help lessen symptoms and decrease outbreaks. Correct usage of latex condoms can reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading herpes.

There are two different strains of herpes simplex viruses:

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is usually associated with infections of the lips, mouth, and face. It is the most common herpes simplex virus and most people develop it in childhood. HSV-1 often causes lesions inside the mouth, such as cold sores (fever blisters), or infection of the eye (especially the conjunctiva and cornea). It can also lead to infection of the lining of the brain (meningoencephalitis). It is transmitted by contact with infected saliva. By adulthood, up to 90% of people will have antibodies to HSV-1. Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) is sexually transmitted. Symptoms include genital ulcers or sores. In addition to oral and genital sores, the virus can also lead to complications such as infection of the lining of the brain and the brain itself (meningoencephalitis) in neonatal infants due to infection during birth. However, some people have HSV-2 but do not show symptoms. Up to 30% of U.S. adults have antibodies against HSV-2. Cross-infection of type 1 and 2 viruses may occur from oral-genital contact.

HSV is a nuclear replicating, icosahedral, enveloped DNA virus. The HSV envelope contains at least 8 glycoproteins. The matrix or tegument which contacts both the envelope and the capsid contains at least 15-20 proteins.

HERPES VIRUS REPLICATION

i) Binding to the cell surface: As with many other viruses, cell tropism is determined by the availability of the correct receptor on the surface of the cell to be infected. The virus fuses with the cell membrane at MOVIE
Replication of herpes (requires Flash)

ambient pH and so there is the possibility of syncytia formation between infected cells and therefore cell to cell transmission even in the presence of neutralizing humoral antibodies. This means that cell-mediated immunity is important in suppressing herpes virus infections. ii) Nucleocapsid enters cytoplasm: The tegumentsurrounded nucleocapsid is carried to the nuclear membrane where the nucleocapsid binds. The DNA genome then enters the nucleus. FIGURE 4 Beta proteins. These are the early proteins and Herpes virus are involved also in DNA replication (they gene include the DNA polymerase and transcription expression factors). Only a few copies of DNA polymerase need to be made for replication to occur (figure 4). Gamma proteins. These are the late proteins and are structural components of the virus. The synthesis of gamma proteins is initiated after Expression of immediate the start of DNA synthesis (figure 4).
early, early and late genes of herpesviruses

iv) RNA transcription: The herpes DNA is transcribed to RNA by a cellular enzyme (DNA-dependent RNA polymerase I). However, the transcription of the various genes is dependent on both nuclear factors of FIGURE 5 the cell AND proteins encoded by the virus. This Maturation of herpes viruses control of viral mRNA, and therefore, viral protein, synthesis determines whether infection will result in the production of new virus particles and cell death (a lytic infection), persistent shedding of virus (persistent infection) or latency. Whether latency occurs is the property of the host cell, that is some cells do not Stages in the exocytosis of allow the replication of viral DNA. If the cell permits herpes virus progression beyond the immediate early genes, a lytic
from the nucleus, in

infection will ensue. v) DNA synthesis: Herpes viruses encode their own DNA-dependent DNA polymerase. In addition, some herpes viruses encode enzymes (such as thymidine which the virus kinase) that allow the virus to grow in non-dividing cells that do not therefore contain the precursors of core is assembled, to DNA synthesis. Without this enzyme, neurotropic the plasma herpes viruses could not replicate because of the low membrane amounts of certain DNA precursors in nerve cells. vi) Assembly: Nucleocapsids are assembled in the nucleus and are filled with DNA They then bud through the double nuclear membrane and leave the cell via the exocytosis pathway or they may bud through another cell membrane such as the plasma membrane (figure 5).

http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/virol/herpes.htm