Researchers Tame
Herpes Virus

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ebrew University of
Jerusalem researchers
have succeeded in isolat-
ing and eliminating two
genes responsible for the viru-
lence of the herpes virus by using
genetic engineering techniques.
The herpes virus is recognized
by the public as the cause of var-
ious illnesses and can even result
in blindness, brain damage and
death.
The Hebrew University re-
search project, among the few in
the world dealing with the viru-
lence of herpes virus, has so far
involved experimentation with
mice; further investigation will
be required before there can be
application regarding humans.
The research, involving the
herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-
I), was undertaken earlier this
year by Dr. Michal Moyal as her
Ph.D. research assignment in the
Department of Molecular Virol-
ogy in the Institute of Microbi-
ology at The Hebrew
University-Hadassah Medical
School.
The herpes simplex virus type
I is one of a family of herpes virus-
es affecting humans and animals.
In general, infections due to the
virus occur in mucus membranes
or in cuts or scratches of the skin,
where the virus multiplies, caus-
ing sores. The most widespread
manifestation occurs on the lips,
but it can also occur in the eyes
or sex organs.
After the initial infection, the
virus penetrates into the nerve
cell clusters (ganglia) of the in-
fected area, where it remains in
a latent condition. Under certain
conditions, such as illness, emo-
tional distress, fever or overex-
posure to sun, the virus can
become reactivated, causing a re-
peat infection. The most serious
manifestations occur in infections
in the eye, which can lead to
blindness, or when the virus
reaches the central nervous sys-

tem, where it can cause brain
damage or even death.
Treatments against the herpes
virus have not been totally suc-
cessful because of the constant
development of new strains of the
virus that are resistant to exist-
ing drugs. The Hebrew Univer-
sity researchers, therefore,
decided to direct their efforts to-
ward removing the virulent char-
acteristics of the virus, thus
paving the way for the virus to be
used as an-immunizing agent.
Research involving injections
of herpes virus into laboratory
mice revealed two genes that
were responsible for the virulence
of the virus and its ability to in-
fect certain parts of the body.
These "guilty" genes were isolat-
ed and, by means of genetic en-
gineering, eliminated. The
altered or "tamed" viruses were
then easily eliminated by the im-
mune system when injected into
the experimental animals.

Herpes
can cause
brain damage,
even death.

The researchers now believe it
is possible to grow a harmless
strain of the virus in the labora-
tory which would not cause any
illness but which could be utilized
as a vaccine to provide immuni-
ty against future infections.
The experimental work at the
Hebrew University was carried
out in cooperation with Professor
Gholamreza Darai and Dr. An-
gela Rosen-Wolff of the Univer-
sity of Heidelberg in Germany.
Financial support for the work
came from the Foundation for
Molecular Virology of Phoenix,
Ariz., founded by Ronnie and
Otto Bendheim.

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