HSV genital infections are common in adolescents and adults worldwide. Although less common, HSV infections that are transmitted from pregnant women to their infants can cause substantial morbidity and mortality in the infants. There are 2 distinct types of HSV, HSV-1 and HSV-2, both of which can be responsible for neonatal disease.HSV-1 and HSV-2 are members of the alpha herpes virus subfamily of the family Herpesviridae. HSV virions consist of a core containing a single linear, double-stranded DNA molecule approximately 152 kilo base pairs in length; an icosahedral capsid made up of 162 capsomeres surrounded by an amorphous, tightly adherent tegument; and a lipid bilayer envelope containing viral glycoprotein spikes surrounding the capsid-tegument complex.
Viral surface glycoproteins mediate attachment and penetration of HSV into cells, and provoke host immune responses. There are 11 known viral glycoproteins (B–M) and a 12th (gN) is predicted. Two of these glycoproteins (gB or gD, or both) have been used in subunit vaccines.The regulatory proteins ICP0, ICP4, and ICP22 are phosphorylated by cellular kinases (eg, cell cyclin kinase, cdc2) and viralprotein kinases (US3 and UL13). UL13 phosphorylates many viral and cellular proteins, and is often targeted in antiviral chemotherapy.

References

1.Scott H. James, et al. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2015;29(3):391–400.