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From: M.L.S. on 18 May 2007 23:01
http://www.livescience.com/health/070516_herpes_upside.html

The Good Thing About Herpes

By Charles Q. Choi, Special to LiveScience
16 May 2007 01:00 pm ET

The herpes family of viruses can have a surprising upside--it can
protect against the bubonic plague

[Whew! I was always worried about that. -MS]

and other bacterial contagions, at least in
mice.

Research into whether a similar mechanism applies to humans and other
mammalian hosts should be conducted, said viral immunologist Skip
Virgin at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
"There may be symbiotic advantages to chronic infections with these
viruses."

These new results do not mean people should go out and get infected
with herpes, Virgin stressed. They probably already are. Nearly all
humans become infected with multiple herpes virus family members
during childhood. These germs not only include the herpes simplex
viruses, which lead to cold sores and possibly genital herpes, but
also the diseases responsible for chickenpox and "mono," as well as
several less well-known ailments. Herpes infections have bedeviled
animals for more than 100 million years.

After the initial period of infection, these viruses enter a dormant
state known as latency. Many lurk for the lifetime of their hosts "as
permanent passengers" without causing overt symptoms, Virgin said.

Virgin and his colleagues experimented with viruses highly similar
genetically to ones that cause mono and other diseases in humans.
These germs normally cause fatigue and ruffled fur in mice, although
the researchers used dose levels too low to cause symptoms.

The scientists discovered latent infections with these viruses could
protect mice from bacterial infections, including Yersinia pestis,
which causes bubonic plague, and Listeria monocytogenes, which causes
one kind of food poisoning, findings detailed in the May 17 issue of
the journal Nature.

The herpes viruses spur the immune system to boost levels of a protein
hormone called interferon gamma "that in effect puts some immune
system soldiers on yellow alert, causing them to patrol for invaders
with their eyes wide open and defense weapons ready," Virgin said. As
a result, the bacteria grew more slowly and were less likely to kill
the mice. Future research can investigate whether these latent
infections protect against other viruses.

Still, while people might benefit from symbiotic relationships with
the herpes family of viruses, they can also have serious consequences,
such as deafness, blindness, encephalitis and cancer.

"The presence of these viruses seems to be a two-edged sword," Virgin
told LiveScience. "I am quite concerned that we be sensitive to these
true human tragedies while recognizing the potential of a new way to
view these infections."

Uncovering any potential benefits of these viruses in humans will
prove hard, Virgin cautioned, "since nearly all humans are infected
with these viruses at a young age, so it will be hard to find people
without them for comparison."


From: Yoshi2me on 27 May 2007 18:19
This information has definitely been making the rounds via the google herpes
news alerts.

Angela

--
http://yoshi2me.com
http://herpes-help.blogspot.com
http://yoshi2me.com/phpbb/index.php
http://checkuptoday.com


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