Researchers have developed a herpes vaccine to prevent the spread of herpes, with several vaccines in the works for different types of herpes. The vaccine works by removing the genetic instructions for making the protein ICPO, which renders the virus powerless. The shingles vaccine also works by injecting weakened versions of the virus.
Herpes is a virus that can cause painful blisters and sores. There are different types of herpes and all types can be passed from one person to another. Herpes simplex virus causes both oral and genital herpes, and herpes zoster virus causes chickenpox and shingles. There is no cure for herpes and although medications can ease the symptoms of recurring infections caused by this virus, until recently there was also no way to stop the virus from spreading if you came into contact with someone who had been infected. However, researchers have developed a herpes vaccine to prevent the spread of herpes.
Several herpes vaccines are in the works, as each type of herpes virus requires its own herpes vaccine. Genital herpes, which is caused by herpes simplex virus two, affects an estimated 55 million Americans, and an effective vaccine for this type is in great demand. To understand how a herpes vaccine works, one must first understand how herpes overcomes the body’s defense mechanisms.
First, the herpes simplex virus infects a cell. That cell, in turn, sends out a signal to warn other cells of imminent danger. The cells that receive the signal then revert to an antiviral state as a means of protection, essentially creating a shield to ward off damage. However, the herpes virus produces a protein called ICPO which becomes hard and causes infected cells to destroy their own shields. This then allows the herpes virus to take over, multiply, then jump onto new cells and trick them too. Mass chaos ensues, and the herpes virus finds a home in a large group of cells.
So, to appease the effects of this deceptive invasion, scientists are creating a herpes vaccine that removes the genetic instructions for making the protein ICPO. Without these instructions, the virus has no ICPO to fool cells with, so even if the rest of the virus remains intact, it is rendered powerless and unable to cause harm. Weakening a virus in this way creates what is known as an “attenuated” virus. Other vaccines that use this approach are measles, mumps, rubella, polio, and yellow fever.
Shingles also has a vaccine. This herpes vaccine is given to prevent both shingles and chickenpox. Though slightly different from the vaccine being developed for herpes simplex, the zoster vaccine also works by injecting weakened versions of the virus. The shingles vaccine and the chickenpox vaccine both contain a weakened strain of the varicella zoster virus.
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