Facts about Herpes you might not know:
- viral DNA - at least 152 kbp
- capsid
- 162 capsomeres
- tegument - layer of proteins
- envelope
- glycosylated and non-glycosylated proteins, lipids and polyamines
DNA
HSV-1 AND HSV-2 DNA contains covalently linked components designated
- L = LONG
- S = SHORT
Each component is composed of unique sequences, U (L) and U (S).
Current studies show that these DNA encode at least 84 different polypeptides mapped in different regions.
How does HSV infect a cell?
HSV attaches to the cell surface receptors, fuse its envelope to the plasma membrane and allow the de-enveloped capsid to be transported to the nuclear pores.
The DNA is released into the nucleus at the pore.
Scheme of infection compared in different viruses.
The key events in viral replication that occur in the nucleus include:
- transcription
- DNA synthesis
- capsid assembly
- DNA packaging
- envelopment
