Anti-Human Alphaherpesvirus Drug Discovery Products

Human alphaherpesvirus (HHV) has three species of viruses in the genus: HHV-1, HHV-2, and HHV-3.

• HHV-1

HHV-1, also named herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), usually causes oral herpes (cold sores) and spreads by oral contact. HSV-1 is suitable for cancer gene therapy and plays an important role in oncolytic development. The genome is a linear, 152 kb DNA that encodes more than 70 open reading frames (ORFs).

• HHV-2

HHV-2, also named, herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), usually causes genital herpes and spreads by sexual contact. HHV-2 is a common infection and the infections last for life. Sometimes the HSV-2 infection can cause severe complications such as meningitis.

• HHV-3

HHV-3, also named varicella-zoster virus (VZV), usually causes chicken pox and shingles. VZV genome, the smallest genome of the human herpesviruses, is about 129 kb in length. VZV infection causes two clinically distinct forms of disease. Primary VZV infection is a self-limited disease with primary varicella. VZV can be postponed for decades by establishing latency in neurons and may reactivate to cause severe shingles.