Abstract
Herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) are highly prevalent within the human population and are characterized by lifelong infections and sporadic recurrences due to latent neuron infection. Upon reactivations, HSVs may manifest either, symptomatically or asymptomatically and be shed onto others through mucosae body fluids. Although, HSVs can produce severe disease in humans, such as life-threatening encephalitis and blindness, the most common symptoms are skin and mucosal lesions in the oro-facial and the genital areas. Nucleoside analogs with antiviral activity can prevent severe HSV infection, yet they are not very effective for treating skin manifestations produced by these viruses, as they only reduce in a few days at most the duration of lesions. Additionally, HSV variants that are resistant to these antivirals may arise, especially in immunosuppressed individuals. Thus, new antivirals that can reduce the severity and duration of these cutaneous manifestations would certainly be welcome. Here, we review currently available anti-herpetic therapies, novel molecules being assessed in clinical trials and new botanical compounds reported in the last 20 years with antiviral activities against HSVs that might represent future treatments against these viruses.
Highlights
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 virus (HSV-2) are viruses belonging to the Herpesviridae family, Alphaherpesvirinae subfamily and Simplexvirus genus
Herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 can cause severe disease in immunocompetent adults and newborns, such as life-threatening encephalitis with sequelae, despite antiviral treatment (Whitley et al, 2007; Xu et al, 2007; Dinh et al, 2008; Handel et al, 2011). These viruses can produce eye infections leading to visual impairment: currently, HSV-1 is the main cause of infectious blindness in developed countries (Farooq and Shukla, 2012)
The most common clinical manifestations associated to HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections are herpes labialis and herpes genitalis (Lafferty et al, 1987; Mertz et al, 1998; Kaye and Choudhary, 2006; Paz-Bailey et al, 2008; Farooq and Shukla, 2012), which are characterized by the appearance of vesicular ulcers in the oro-facial and genital areas that gradually dry out into crusts and may last up to 14 days during primary infections and approximately 10 days during recurrences if no treatment is undertaken (Arduino and Porter, 2007)
Summary
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 virus (HSV-2) are viruses belonging to the Herpesviridae family, Alphaherpesvirinae subfamily and Simplexvirus genus. This study reported total viral inhibition when the evaluated compound was added to human Hep-2 cells infected with a clinical isolate of HSV-1 in a time-of-addition assay.
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