Study explains how cold sore virus hides

Published: July 3, 2008 at 5:50 PM DURHAM, N.C., July 3 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say the herpes simplex virus 1 lies dormant in a nerve of the face until triggered to reawaken by sunlight, fever or other stresses. Researchers at the Duke University Medical Center, in Durham, N.C., said that cold sores -- painful, unsightly blemishes around the mouth -- have so far evaded a cure or prevention. Most of the time, herpes simplex virus 1 lives quietly for years and only produces one molecular product -- latency associated transcript RNA or LAT RNA, Bryan Cullen said. In studies of mice, the team showed that the LAT RNA is processed into smaller strands, called microRNAs, that block production of the proteins that make the virus turn on active replication. As long as the supply of microRNAs is sufficient, the virus stays dormant.... [read full story]