• ACVC Callout
News
ICViewExpert PerspectivesMedical World NewsVideosWebinars
Conference
Infection Control TodaySupplements And Featured Publications
CME/CEJob BoardPartnersSponsoredWhitepapers
Print SubscriptioneNewsletter
Educator of the Year Nomination FormEducator of the Year Official RulesEducator of the Year
Advanced Technology
Bug of the Month
COVID-19
Environmental Services
HAIs
Hand Hygiene
Long-Term Care
Operating Room
Personal Protective EquipmentPersonal Protective Equipment
Prevention
Sterile Processing
Surface Disinfection
Vascular Access
Spotlight -
  • Expert Perspectives on Personal Protection Guidelines and Standardization Practices
  • Bug of the Month
Advanced Technology
Bug of the Month
COVID-19
Environmental Services
HAIs
Hand Hygiene
Long-Term Care
Operating Room
Personal Protective EquipmentPersonal Protective Equipment
Prevention
Sterile Processing
Surface Disinfection
Vascular Access
    • News
    • Conference
Advertisement

Researchers Link Herpes to Alzheimer's Disease

April 4, 2011
Article

Laboratories at the University of New Mexico (UNM), Brown University, and House Ear Institute (HEI) have developed a new technique to observe herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) infections growing inside cells. HSV1, the cause of the common cold sore, persists in a latent form inside nerve cells. Re-activation and growth of HSV1 infections contribute to cognitive decline associated with Alzheimers disease. Details are published in the March 31 issue of PLoS ONE magazine from the Public Library of Science.

"Herpes infects mucous membranes, such as the lip or eye, and generates viral particles," submits study principal investigator Elaine Bearer, MD, PhD, the Harvey Family Professor and vice chair for research, Department of Pathology, UNM School of Medicine. "These viral particles burst out of the cells of the mucous membrane and enter sensory nerve cells where they travel inside the nerve toward the brain. We now can see this cellular transportation system and watch how the newly formed virus engages cellular APP on its journey out of the cell."

Tagging herpes virus inside cells with green fluorescent protein, scientists used live confocal imaging to watch HSV1 particles emerge from infected cells. Newly produced viral particles exit the cell nucleus and then bud into cellular membranes containing amyloid precursor protein (APP). Electron microscopy at HEI detailed the ultrastructural relationship between HSV1 particles and APP.

This dance between viral particles and cellular APP results in changes in cellular architecture and the distribution of APP, the major component of senile plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients. Results from this study indicate that most intracellular HSV1 particles undergo frequent, dynamic interplay with APP, which facilitates viral transport while interfering with normal APP transport and distribution. This dynamic interaction reveals a mechanism by which HSV1 infection leads to Alzheimer's disease.

In developed countries such as the U.S., approximately 20 percent of children are infected with HSV1 prior to the age of five. By the second and third decades of life, as much as 60 percent of the population is infected, and late-in-life infection rate reaches 85 percent.

Symptoms of primary HSV1 infection include painful blisters of the mouth, lips or eyes. After infection, HSV1 persists in nerve cells by becoming latent. Upon re-awakening, new viral particles are made in the neuron and then travel back out its pathways to re-infect the mucous membrane. Many infected people experience sporadic episodes of viral outbreaks as the well-known recurrent cold sore.

"Clinicians have seen a link between HSV1 infection and Alzheimer's disease in patients, so we wanted to investigate what might be going on in the body that would account for this," adds Dr. Shi-Bin Cheng, post-doctoral associate, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Alpert Medical School, Brown University. "What we were able to see in the lab strongly suggests a causal link between HSV1 and Alzheimer's Disease."

"Its no longer a matter of determining whether HSV1 is involved in cognitive decline, but rather how significant this involvement is," Bearer asserts. "Well need to investigate anti-viral drugs used for acute herpes treatment to determine their ability to slow or prevent cognitive decline."

Researchers recommend people treat a cold sore as quickly as possible to minimize the amount of time the virus is actively traveling through a persons nervous system. The faster a cold sore is treated, the faster the HSV1 returns to a dormant stage.

Related Videos
Set of white bottles with cleaning liquids on the white background. (Adobe Stock 6338071172112 by zolnierek)
Medical investigators going over data. (AdobeStock 589197902 by Wasan)
CDC logo is seen on a laptop. (Adobe Stock 428450603 by monticellllo)
Association for the Health Care Environment (Logo used with permission)
COVID-19 germs, fungi, bacteria objects. (Adobe Stock 584704860 by chawalit)
Ambassador Deborah Birx, , speaks with Infection Control Today about masks in schools and the newest variant.
mRNA technology  (Adobe Stock 485886181 by kaptn)
Ambassador Deborah Birx, MD
Woman lying in hospital bed (Adobe Stock, unknown)
Related Content

Low Vaccination Concerns Highlight Need for Fall and Winter 2023 Vaccination Campaigns

September 28th 2023

Evolving Symptomatology: Respiratory Viruses in the Era of COVID-19 Variants

September 27th 2023

I’m Not Just an Infection Preventionist

September 26th 2023

Poll: What Minimum Educational Requirement Should Infection Preventionists Have?

September 25th 2023

How to Prepare For Possible “Tripledemic” of RSV, Influenza, and SARS-CoV-2

September 25th 2023

Weekly Rounds: Data-Driven Action Against COVID-19, Emerging Pathogens, HIV Vaccine Trials Begin, and More

September 22nd 2023

Low Vaccination Concerns Highlight Need for Fall and Winter 2023 Vaccination Campaigns

September 28th 2023

Evolving Symptomatology: Respiratory Viruses in the Era of COVID-19 Variants

September 27th 2023

I’m Not Just an Infection Preventionist

September 26th 2023

Poll: What Minimum Educational Requirement Should Infection Preventionists Have?

September 25th 2023

How to Prepare For Possible “Tripledemic” of RSV, Influenza, and SARS-CoV-2

September 25th 2023

Weekly Rounds: Data-Driven Action Against COVID-19, Emerging Pathogens, HIV Vaccine Trials Begin, and More

September 22nd 2023

Low Vaccination Concerns Highlight Need for Fall and Winter 2023 Vaccination Campaigns

September 28th 2023

Evolving Symptomatology: Respiratory Viruses in the Era of COVID-19 Variants

September 27th 2023

I’m Not Just an Infection Preventionist

September 26th 2023

Poll: What Minimum Educational Requirement Should Infection Preventionists Have?

September 25th 2023

How to Prepare For Possible “Tripledemic” of RSV, Influenza, and SARS-CoV-2

September 25th 2023

Weekly Rounds: Data-Driven Action Against COVID-19, Emerging Pathogens, HIV Vaccine Trials Begin, and More

September 22nd 2023
Related Content
Advertisement

In this photo illustration, National Foundation for Infectious Diseases logo is seen displayed on a smartphone    (Adobe Stock 346303670 By Игорь Головнёв)

Low Vaccination Concerns Highlight Need for Fall and Winter 2023 Vaccination Campaigns

September 28th 2023
Article

Cases of COVID-19, RSV, and influenza are expected to rise this fall and winter season; yet, the number of people who plan on getting the vaccines for each of the infections remains low, according to the NFID announcement today.


COVID-19 germs, fungi, bacteria objects.   (Adobe Stock 584704860 by chawalit)

Evolving Symptomatology: Respiratory Viruses in the Era of COVID-19 Variants

September 27th 2023
Article

As COVID-19 restrictions eased up, other respiratory viruses began circulating alongside SARS-CoV-2. It's crucial to identify cases and understand the symptoms of these infections to track the evolution of the virus and what health care workers should look out for.


An infection preventionist taking off her mask. (Adobe Stock, unknown)

I’m Not Just an Infection Preventionist

September 26th 2023
Article

Infection preventionists (IP) can come from many different backgrounds. This is 1 opinion from 1 very successful IP who doesn't have an RN or a BSN and the bullying that sometimes occurs.


(Adobe Stock FILE #:  56169337 by thinglass)

Poll: What Minimum Educational Requirement Should Infection Preventionists Have?

September 25th 2023
Article

Many infection preventionists (IPs) disagree on the minimum requirement to have the IP position. Let Infection Control Today know your opinion. Answer this poll, and send your thoughts to Senior Editor Tori Whitacre Martonicz at tmartonicz@mjhlifesciences.com.


Influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 (AdobeStock_249346161, AdobeStock_538653843,AdobeStock_471755796)

How to Prepare For Possible “Tripledemic” of RSV, Influenza, and SARS-CoV-2

September 25th 2023
Article

The interaction between the respiratory viruses SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and RSV, poses ongoing challenges. Personal protective measures, testing, and vaccination are critical components of our strategy to mitigate the impact of these viruses.


weekly rounds with infection control today

Weekly Rounds: Data-Driven Action Against COVID-19, Emerging Pathogens, HIV Vaccine Trials Begin, and More

September 22nd 2023
Article

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today®’s highlights for the week ending September 24, 2023.

Advertise
About Us
Editorial Board
Contact Us
Job Board
Terms and Conditions
Privacy
Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Contact Info

2 Clarke Drive
Cranbury, NJ 08512

609-716-7777

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.
Home
About Us
News