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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Herpes / January 2006Herpes vs. Other Viruses
Hello, I have a question about herpes and thought I'd ask if anyone might know the answer. When a person gets the Flu or a cold virus or other viruses, in most cases the virus goes away. But why is it that with a herpes virus such as Epstein Barr, simplex, chickenpox or the close relative HPV, it doesn't go away and you have it for life? What is it that makes these viruses "smarter" than the other types? Thanks, Al >Hello, >I have a question about herpes and thought I'd ask if anyone might know the >answer. When a person gets the Flu or a cold virus or other viruses, in most >cases the virus goes away. But why is it that with a herpes virus such as >Epstein Barr, simplex, chickenpox or the close relative HPV, it doesn't go >away and you have it for life? What is it that makes these viruses "smarter" >than the other types? The herpes viruses hide themselves where the body's immune system can't get at them, in the ganglia near the spine. When they enter their active phase and leave the ganglia the body finally sees them and does attack, but often it's not quickly or forcefully enough to prevent an outbreak. Other viruses exist in the blood stream or the lungs, where the immune system can tackle them directly until eradicated. Hope that helps. Mike Yes that makes sense Mike thank you. I am just surprised that the human or animal body hasn't found a way to attack it stronger or even attack the ganglia area. Maybe these are areas that the antibodies cannot get into. The herpes and hpv viruses live in the nerves from what I understand, so I guess this is what makes them different. Another thought I have is since herpes and hpv are chronic diseases, that would mean that a person with herpes or hpv is a little more active with their immune system. I wonder if this can be detrimental in making a person have a weaker system than a person without herpes or hpv? BTW Mike...what is your website address? I want to link it in my website if that is okay. Thanks, Al > The herpes viruses hide themselves where the body's immune system > can't get at them, in the ganglia near the spine. When they enter [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Mike >Yes that makes sense Mike thank you. I am just surprised that the human or >animal body hasn't found a way to attack it stronger or even attack the >ganglia area. Maybe these are areas that the antibodies cannot get into. The Zackly. Antibodies can't enter the ganglia, or other nerve cells, for that matter. >herpes and hpv viruses live in the nerves from what I understand, so I guess >this is what makes them different. >Another thought I have is since herpes and hpv are chronic diseases, that >would mean that a person with herpes or hpv is a little more active with >their immune system. I wonder if this can be detrimental in making a person >have a weaker system than a person without herpes or hpv? In the larger scheme of things, no. A person with an immune system uncompromised by something like AIDS is not substantially taxed by day to day skirmishes with HSV. On the other hand, you probably wouldn't want the joy of an outbreak when you're deep in the throes of fighting something like the bird flu. Generally, though, the body isn't made weaker by being prepared to fight new viruses. We are capable of mounting defenses against a huge number of biological invaders. One or two out of the millions, even ones in permanent residence, do not make much of an impact. >BTW Mike...what is your website address? I want to link it in my website if >that is okay. Sure thing. It's still sadly unworked on, but, you know, it's all I've got... http://web.newsguy.com/sphere/ Take care, Mike Okay thanks. I am adding that as a herpes related link to my web page, and I will post the link to mine when it is done. Its really just a bunch of stuff thrown together (my site) not really about herpes other than in my bio. Mostly about the state I live in and some other silly things. > Sure thing. It's still sadly unworked on, but, you know, it's all > I've got... [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Mike Hey there, Al. I don't think having herpes or HPV effects the immune system in any way. I never get colds...perhaps one small one every three or four years. And I haven't had the flu in 25 years or so. ar >Yes that makes sense Mike thank you. I am just surprised that the human or >animal body hasn't found a way to attack it stronger or even attack the [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] >> >> Mike Hi Ar, Well you are lucky! I still get frequent colds and stomach flu's and as far as the regular flu...well I take the flu shot for that. I have mild asthma and alot of allergies so colds are something I was always prone to anyway, but looking back and comparing to when I got herpes and hpv I don't think it made that much if any difference in how my body handles colds and things. I'm going to turn 40 in a couple of months so I am getting more aware of taking care of myself. Al > Hey there, Al. I don't think having herpes or HPV effects the immune system in > any way. I never get colds...perhaps one small one every three or four years. > And I haven't had the flu in 25 years or so. > > ar Hi Al, My allergies were pretty severe. Actually, very severe. They're all gone now, too. I didn't have asthma so I can't comment on that. Anyway, still not prone to colds or the flu... ar >Hi Ar, > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >> >> ar > Yes that makes sense Mike thank you. I am just surprised that the human or > animal body hasn't found a way to attack it stronger or even attack the > ganglia area. THe neurons that are infected are single cells that stretch continuously from the spinal cord to just below the skin surface. They don't regenerate well, if they manage it at all. Taking out the ganglion area would result in sensory impairment. This sort of cell has specific methods in place to prevent routine immune recognistion o infection (it plays with the presentationof MHC molecules) > Maybe these are areas that the antibodies cannot get into. Antibody has little to doin viral infections, cell mediated immunity is usually far more important in dealing with viral infections....mainly due to their intracellular nature (the things are inside body cells rather than most bacteria which remain outside). > The > herpes and hpv viruses live in the nerves from what I understand, so I guess > this is what makes them different. HPV usually targets epithelial cells IIRC. > Another thought I have is since herpes and hpv are chronic diseases, that > would mean that a person with herpes or hpv is a little more active with > their immune system. In those specific cell clones set up to deal with the virus in question yes. > I wonder if this can be detrimental in making a person > have a weaker system than a person without herpes or hpv? The short answer is basically no..the log answer is very long, very technical and I can only really begin to scratch the surface of it with my knowledge of immunology and even that needs more time than I have right at this moment. Tim -- When playing rugby, its not the winning that counts, but the taking apart ICQ: 5178568 > Hello, > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Epstein Barr, simplex, chickenpox or the close relative HPV, it doesn't go > away and you have it for life? HPV isnt a close enough relative that you can give the answer as a single block beyond saying they both use persistence in the host to survive. Effectively one of the features that define viruses is their method of evading the host response to them (which generally boils down to a gentetic structure.... Flu and other acute viruses use the host to replicate and pass on, so they don;t really use a strategy that needs to hand around. FLu and others further mutate rapidly to new strains so evading the host response. HSV and other herpesviruses evade the host immune response by hiding their DNA in a host cell, this reservoir then becomes the source for reactivation. If I remember my HPV correctly then it evades the host response by stsying in cells remote from the response limiting its effectiveness (epithelial cells in that case). > What is it that makes these viruses "smarter" > than the other types? They are highly evolved parasites. Millions upon millions of years of refining their technique coupled ot the fact that if you get it wrong its genetic curtains for you has produced very effective life strategies. Survival is the measure of success in biology not necessarily smartness, or rather for the viruses you describe complexity. The other point is we are not the top of the food chain..... Tim -- When playing rugby, its not the winning that counts, but the taking apart ICQ: 5178568 |
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