Herpesviruses

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Herpesviruses

Herpesviruses (/hɜːrˈpiːzˌvaɪrəs/), from the Greek herpein meaning "to creep", are a large family of DNA viruses that cause diseases in animals, including humans. The members of this family are also known as herpesviruses. The family name is derived from the Greek word herpein ("to creep"), referring to the latent, recurring infections typical of this group of viruses. Herpesviruses have been known since ancient times.

Classification

Herpesviruses belong to the family Herpesviridae. They are grouped into three subfamilies: Alphaherpesvirinae, Betaherpesvirinae, and Gammaherpesvirinae. Each of these subfamilies includes several distinct species that infect humans.

Structure and Genome

Herpesviruses are large, enveloped viruses with an icosahedral capsid. The genome of herpesviruses is a large, linear, double-stranded DNA molecule. The DNA is enclosed within a capsid, which is surrounded by a tegument consisting of proteins, and a lipid bilayer envelope.

Diseases

Herpesviruses are responsible for a variety of diseases in humans. These include Herpes simplex infections, Varicella zoster (chickenpox and shingles), Epstein-Barr virus infections (mononucleosis), and Cytomegalovirus infections. Some herpesviruses are also associated with certain types of cancer, such as Kaposi's sarcoma and Burkitt's lymphoma.

Treatment and Prevention

Treatment for herpesvirus infections typically involves antiviral medications, such as Acyclovir, Valacyclovir, and Famciclovir. Vaccines are available for some herpesviruses, including the varicella-zoster virus and the Epstein-Barr virus.

See Also

External links

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