# Herpes (HSV) Cure? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 14, 2012, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herpes-hsv-cure/618722 "2012-04-14T00:37:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Mathematics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@Mathematics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathematics)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herpes-hsv-cure/618722/102 "2013-05-06T17:29:17Z")
It’s okay, I’ll keep that in mind. I asked because I just did a pretty long report on the herpes simplex virus for a microbiology class at uni and now I’m interested in it. I do appreciate the effort very much! ---
**Author:** ![yorick73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b5a626/32.png) [@yorick73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yorick73)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herpes-hsv-cure/618722/103 "2013-05-06T20:14:12Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > But if I remember my second-year biology text right, the herpes virus isn’t lipid coated. You remember incorrectly. HSV does have a viral envelope. > [@Smeghead](#): > > -First, let’s look at the neuron in the trigeminal ganglion, where HSV is known to go dormant. In this cell, the virus exists only as a stretch of DNA integrated into your own genome. HSV usually exists as an episome in the nucleus. It has been found to integrate into the host genome on occasion but so has just about every other DNA virus. I remember that HHV-6 integrates into the genome but I don’t believe this is the ususal mode for other members of this family. None of this is to suggest that H2O2 or apple cider vinegar will cure herpes. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herpes-hsv-cure/618722/104 "2013-05-06T21:16:10Z")
> [@yorick73](#): > > HSV usually exists as an episome in the nucleus. It has been found to integrate into the host genome on occasion but so has just about every other DNA virus. I remember that HHV-6 integrates into the genome but I don’t believe this is the ususal mode for other members of this family. Good point. Still, to be effective as a “cure”, a treatment must be able to deal with an integrated viral genome, otherwise these occasional cases could survive. ---
**Author:** ![yorick73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b5a626/32.png) [@yorick73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yorick73)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herpes-hsv-cure/618722/105 "2013-05-06T21:33:15Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Good point. Still, to be effective as a “cure”, a treatment must be able to deal with an integrated viral genome, otherwise these occasional cases could survive. I’m not certain that an entire virus can be produced from an integration event. In the absence of integrase the integration can be a small part of the viral genome, recombined bits or, in theory, the whole thing. I know that adenovirus can integrate into the genome at very low levels but this does not result in a long term case of respiratory infection (of course those cells are turned over at a fairly high rate). The bigger fear of integration with a virus that doesn’t normally integrate into the genome is the possibility of activating an oncogene or inactivating a tumor suppressor gene. ETA that the main point is that the virus DNA survives in non-dividing cells as an episome. This is functionally as good as integration as far as I know (someone correct me if I’m wrong) since the episome will not be eliminated during cell division. Any “cure” would have to eliminate viral DNA from neuronal nuclei. ---
**Author:** ![clearlsky1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@clearlsky1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clearlsky1)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herpes-hsv-cure/618722/106 "2013-05-06T22:05:34Z")
Does anybody know about the current Herpes vaccine trials? There are two that I am aware of: Genocea and Agnus Herpv. Will these be a cure or more of a suppression of the virus? How are they trying to do this? ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herpes-hsv-cure/618722/107 "2013-05-07T16:10:32Z")
> [@barbitu8](#): > > . . . That doesn’t, however, eliminate the latent viruses. I had to wait until I got a cold sore before I started the testing. They had no way to activate the virus. I had to bide my time. So if someone found a way to activate the virus, the researchers testing for cures and therapies might be very interested in that, right? There would be a market. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herpes-hsv-cure/618722/108 "2013-05-07T16:51:27Z")
> [@clearlsky1](#): > > Does anybody know about the current Herpes vaccine trials? There are two that I am aware of: Genocea and Agnus Herpv. Will these be a cure or more of a suppression of the virus? How are they trying to do this? Googling the companies’ websites provided clear answers. The former is testing both preventative and treatment vaccines, the latter seems to be treatment only. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herpes-hsv-cure/618722/109 "2013-05-07T19:36:14Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > So if someone found a way to activate the virus, the researchers testing for cures and therapies might be very interested in that, right? There would be a market. If there were some way to get all of the herpes viruses out of the ganglia and closer to the source of symptomatology, acyclovir would do the job. Acyclovir kills the viruses further up into the nervous system. Hydrocortisone and Curasor (ether) kills only the surface viruses. ---
**Author:** ![yorick73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b5a626/32.png) [@yorick73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yorick73)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herpes-hsv-cure/618722/110 "2013-05-07T20:16:18Z")
> [@barbitu8](#): > > If there were some way to get all of the herpes viruses out of the ganglia and closer to the source of symptomatology, acyclovir would do the job. Acyclovir kills the viruses further up into the nervous system. Hydrocortisone and Curasor (ether) kills only the surface viruses. I don’t see how Aciclovir would clear the infection. Aciclovir is a nucleoside analog that is preferentiallly converted by viral TK. This might stop active replication but I don’t think it will clear the episome from infected cells. And, since these cells don’t turn over like most other cells… ---
**Author:** ![Strassia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@Strassia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strassia)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herpes-hsv-cure/618722/111 "2013-05-07T20:40:01Z")
> [@barbitu8](#): > > If there were some way to get all of the herpes viruses out of the ganglia and closer to the source of symptomatology, acyclovir would do the job. Acyclovir kills the viruses further up into the nervous system. Hydrocortisone and Curasor (ether) kills only the surface viruses. I think the point is they would save time on clinical trials if they didn’t have to wait for subjects to break out. I suspect there are enough people infected that this isn’t a concern. More importantly, if they could figure out a specific mechanism that activates the virus, they might be able to better block its activation. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2013, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herpes-hsv-cure/618722/112 "2013-05-07T21:39:44Z")
> [@Strassia](#): > > I think the point is they would save time on clinical trials if they didn’t have to wait for subjects to break out. I suspect there are enough people infected that this isn’t a concern. > > More importantly, if they could figure out a specific mechanism that activates the virus, they might be able to better block its activation. You mean apart from bright UV-containing sunlight (which is a pretty reliable trigger for my HSV-1). Although that may be problematic for HSV-2 sufferers. ---
**Author:** ![fitzdevlin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@fitzdevlin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fitzdevlin)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herpes-hsv-cure/618722/113 "2013-05-15T17:10:26Z")
…epigenetic therapies? i think i saw mention of gene silencing via siRNA, but what’s everyone think? and i’d like to see more mention of experimental therapies (conventional preferrably) i realize, that in the case of non-lethal disease of this sort it’s probably ill advised, but i’ll be damned if i’ll just take a single oncologist’s opinion on any cancer i’ll develop without getting at least another 10. conventional medicine and big pharma are in bed together. why aren’t there more dual-threats in the medical profession? A conventional MD tempered with a degree in alternative/holistic medicine of some kind? this is my doctor: [http://bowiefamilypractice.com/CAM\_Therapies.html](http://bowiefamilypractice.com/CAM_Therapies.html) and this is a great book: > **[Health Corruption](https://www.wanttoknow.info/health/health-corruption)** > > Health Corruption: A two-page summary by a top MD on health corruption with a focus on corruption in the pharmaceutical industry. ---
**Author:** ![fitzdevlin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@fitzdevlin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fitzdevlin)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herpes-hsv-cure/618722/114 "2013-05-15T17:15:33Z")
…while the website i list for the book summary is a dippy one, it’s a summary of _The Truth About the Drug Companies_ by Dr. Marcia Angell, former editor in chief of the New England Journal of Medicine. don’t hesitate to find it somewhere else. ---
**Author:** ![chargerrich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chargerrich/32/5399_2.png) [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herpes-hsv-cure/618722/115 "2013-05-15T18:02:38Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Yes, that’s definitely just you. > Don’t worry, you certainly don’t sound mean. > And with that last non sequitur quote in my rearview mirror, I’m moving on to more rational discourses involving science, rationality, and hopefully wanton women. I have no idea how you can calmly rationalize with uneducated trolls. QtM you have the patience of Jobe. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![fitzdevlin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@fitzdevlin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fitzdevlin)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herpes-hsv-cure/618722/116 "2013-05-17T00:00:01Z")
it would suffice to say, troglodyte. nevertheless, i believe the reason you “have no idea how [he] can calmly rationalize with uneducated trolls,” is that YOU can’t and have assumed a position of judgement to the point of acting pharisee. while i’m not, if you are a person of faith, leave the judgement to your god…and leave good men like Jobe out of this. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herpes-hsv-cure/618722/117 "2013-05-17T02:22:58Z")
Yes, by all means—leave Jobe out of this! Unlike trolls, Jobe makes a _quality_ fertilizer product. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herpes-hsv-cure/618722/118 "2013-05-17T03:32:55Z")
> [@chargerrich](#): > > I have no idea how you can calmly rationalize with uneducated trolls. > [@fitzdevlin](#): > > it would suffice to say, troglodyte. nevertheless, i believe the reason you “have no idea how [he] can calmly rationalize with uneducated trolls,” is that YOU can’t and have assumed a position of judgement to the point of acting pharisee. while i’m not, if you are a person of faith, leave the judgement to your god…and leave good men like Jobe out of this. **Moderator Notes** **chargerrich** , accusations of trolling are not permitted outside the Pit. **fitzdevlin** , don’t insult other posters in this forum. No warnings issued. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![dehaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@dehaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dehaven)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herpes-hsv-cure/618722/119 "2013-06-26T23:37:20Z")
Originally Posted by ivory Chinese scientists at Florida university cured hepatitis C infections in mices and cell cultures completely. They’re using rna interference technology, wich is, -by my opinion- the only possible cure for herpes. It doesn’t attack cells, it attacks and destroys mRNA, used to reproduce viral proteins in cells. It is called nanozime. This is a fairly new technology, (the mRNA interference phenomenon was firs observed in the 90’s in petunias) and it can be very dangerous, but there was no side effects or any kind of immune response to the drug in the research subjects. Even if it takes years to perfect this kind of drugs, I strongly belive that this is the most promising stuff that will help people fight against viruses in the near future. “Nanozime” should be “nanozyme,” for anyone trying to find information on this. And on that note, I found the study in question, performed at the University of Florida. Saying it had no side effects in the “research subjects” is not an accurate statement, though, as it was tested in cultured human and mouse cells, not in living subjects, as far as I can tell. It is way too early to be confidently predicting this will destroy hep C in a living human subject reliably, much less extrapolating to the rather different herpes virus.///////// looks like it may work:[http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1700384](http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1700384) ---
**Author:** ![dehaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@dehaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dehaven)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herpes-hsv-cure/618722/120 "2013-06-26T23:39:22Z")
The expanded screening recommendations are especially important in light of highly effective treatment for HCV. Currently available antiviral agents can elicit a sustained virologic response (virologic clearance or cure) in up to 79% of patients when administered with pegylated interferon and ribavirin, and the benefits of HCV treatment are expected to increase. On the basis of clinical trial data for 2 agents submitted in new drug applications to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, future treatment regimens will comprise 1 or more antiviral agents (given either with pegylated interferon and ribavirin or as all-oral combinations) and are expected to yield similar or improved rates of viral clearance. These new regimens require shorter durations of treatment (12 to 24 weeks rather than current 24- to 48-week regimens) and are associated with fewer serious adverse events (7). ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herpes-hsv-cure/618722/121 "2013-06-27T00:17:35Z")
**dehaven** , please be careful when quoting, as some of the apparently-quoted text in your post was written by me and not by **Ivory**. Also, your cited article refers to pegylated interferon and ribavirin, not nanozyme. Those two treatments (not nanozyme) are known to have efficacy against HepC. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herpes-hsv-cure/618722.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herpes-hsv-cure/618722.md?page=7)