Herpesviridae

Herpesviridae is a family of enveloped double-stranded DNA viruses. Many members establish lifelong infections by alternating between active replication and latency.

Viral latency: A state in which a virus persists in host cells with limited gene expression and little or no production of infectious particles. Latency lets many herpesviruses persist between episodes of active replication.
Lytic cycle: A viral replication program that produces new virus particles and often damages or kills the infected cell. Herpesviruses use this program during active replication and many symptomatic episodes.
Herpes simplex: A recurrent infection caused by herpes simplex virus, commonly producing oral or genital lesions. It is a familiar human disease caused by members of this virus family.
Alphaherpesvirinae: A herpesvirus subfamily that includes herpes simplex viruses and varicella-zoster virus, often associated with neuronal latency. Its members commonly persist in sensory neurons and reactivate at peripheral sites.
Herpesvirales: An order of large DNA viruses that includes herpesviruses and related viruses infecting vertebrates and invertebrates. Herpesviridae is one family within this broader viral order.
Viral envelope: A lipid membrane surrounding some viruses, usually bearing proteins that mediate attachment to and entry into host cells. Herpesviruses use envelope proteins to attach to and enter host cells.
Latency-associated transcript: A noncoding RNA transcribed from the latent herpes simplex virus genome, especially in sensory neurons. Its expression is a prominent feature of herpes simplex virus latency.
Varicella: The contagious illness caused by primary infection with varicella-zoster virus, characterized by an itchy rash. It is the primary-disease presentation of a human herpesvirus.
Betaherpesvirinae: A herpesvirus subfamily that includes cytomegalovirus and roseoloviruses, often characterized by slow replication and host-cell enlargement. Its members differ from alphaherpesviruses in replication patterns and typical latency sites.
Herpesvirus genome: The linear double-stranded DNA genome of a herpesvirus, containing genes for replication, structure, and host interaction. Genome organization and sequence comparisons distinguish herpesvirus lineages.

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