What Is Viruses
Viruses are the smallest known microbes or infectious agents. The simplest viruses consist of a core of nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat known as a capsid; this nucleic acid-protein complex is referred to as a nucleocapsid. In more complex viruses the nucleocapsid is surrounded by an envelope, which is a membrane-like structure containing carbohydrates,lipids and proteins. Viruses contain either ribonucleic acid
(RNA) or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which are large complex chemicals that contain the viruses’ genetic code and serve as a blueprint for making more viruses.
The Herpes virus Family
Herpes simplex viruses type 1 and type 2 are members of the herpes virus family. (The term “herpesvirus” refers to any member of the family.) For a virus to be a herpes virus it must have the right shape and contain the right nucleic acid. The capsid of a herpes virus is in the shape of an icosahedron, a cubic structure having 20 equal triangular surfaces, made up of 162 smaller units called capsomeres. The nucleocapsid contains DNA and is surrounded by an envelope with spike-like structures projecting from the surface.
Herpes virus are complex microbes that produce from 70 to more than 200 specialized proteins that are needed for their reproduction and survival. Because these proteins are important for the virus, but not for the cell, it is theoretically possible that new drugs can be developed that will interfere with the production or function of these proteins. Ideally, such drugs would have no effect on healthy cells but would act on infected cells to block the production and spread of new virus. Scientists are currently studying many of the different herpes virus proteins in the hope that the information can be used to develop useful new drugs to treat herpes virus infections.
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