Herpesviruses

Herpesviruses are a family of DNA viruses with extremely high prevalence rates.

Viruses in this family include HSV-1 and HSV-2, Epstein-Barr virus (HHV4), which causes mononucleosis, Varicella zoster virus, which causes chicken pox and shingles. More than 90% of adults have been infected with at least one of these viruses.

Other herpesviruses include human cytomegalovirus, HHV-6, HHV-7, and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus.

They share in common that after the initial infection, these viruses usually remain latent for life.

Reactivation of these viruses have been associated with a number of diseases. HSV-1 has been implicated in Alzheimer's.

It is unclear whether herpesviruses associated with Chronic fatigue syndrome play an etiological role or are "bystanders" – opportunistic reactivations under a state of immune dysregulation.

Several of these viruses have transactivating potential.