Herpes simplex virus type 1 antigens (HSV-1 antigens) (HSV-1 antigens)

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) antigens are a diverse group of viral proteins essential for the virus's ability to infect host cells, replicate its genome, and evade the host immune system. These antigens include envelope glycoproteins such as gB, gC, gD, gH, and gL, which facilitate viral attachment and entry, as well as internal enzymes like DNA polymerase and thymidine kinase that are critical for DNA synthesis (StatPearls, 2023; UniProt, 2024). HSV-1 is the primary cause of herpes labialis (cold sores) and can also lead to more severe conditions like keratitis and life-threatening encephalitis (NIH, 2022). Most current antiviral drugs, such as acyclovir and its derivatives, target the viral DNA polymerase after being activated by the viral thymidine kinase (PubMed, 2021). A major therapeutic challenge is the virus's ability to establish lifelong latency in the sensory ganglia, where these antigens are not expressed at high levels, allowing the virus to persist despite treatment and immune pressure (PubMed, 2022).

Other names

Herpes simplex virus 1 proteinsHSV-1 surface proteinsHSV-1 glycoproteinsHerpes simplex virus type 1 surface antigens

Inhibition of viral DNA polymerase, inhibition of viral entry and fusion, and inhibition of the helicase-primase complex.