Herpes simplex virus envelope glycoproteins (HSV glycoproteins)

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) envelope glycoproteins are a group of at least 12 proteins (e.g., gB, gC, gD, gE, gG, gH, gI, gJ, gK, gL, gM) essential for viral attachment, entry, and spread (UniProt P06437, P03172). The core entry machinery consists of gD, which binds to host receptors like HVEM or nectin-1, and the gB and gH/gL complex, which executes the fusion of the viral envelope with the host cell membrane (PMID: 23910378). These glycoproteins are the primary targets for the host immune response and are central to the development of vaccines and neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (PMID: 32661131). For instance, docosanol is an FDA-approved topical treatment that inhibits the fusion process mediated by these glycoproteins to prevent viral entry into healthy cells (PubChem CID 12620). Experimental therapies like UB-621 and HDIT101 are monoclonal antibodies designed to target specific glycoproteins (gD and gG, respectively) to treat or prevent HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections (NCT04161963). Because these proteins are critical for the viral life cycle and are exposed on the virion surface, they remain the most promising targets for preventing both primary infection and viral reactivation.

Other names

HSV surface glycoproteinsHSV-1 glycoproteinsHSV-2 glycoproteinsHSV gBHSV gDHSV gH/gLHSV entry glycoproteins

Inhibition of viral-host cell membrane fusion and neutralization of viral particles to prevent entry into host cells (PubChem CID 12620, PMID: 23910378).