Genotypic and Phenotypic Diversity of Herpes Simplex Virus 2 within the Infected Neonatal Population.

ABSTRACT: More than 14,000 neonates are infected with herpes simplex virus (HSV) annually. Approximately half display manifestations limited to the skin, eyes, or mouth (SEM disease). The rest develop invasive infections that spread to the central nervous system (CNS disease or encephalitis) or throughout the infected neonate (disseminated disease). Invasive HSV disease is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, but the viral and host factors that predispose neonates to these forms are unknown. To define viral diversity within the infected neonatal population, we evaluated 10 HSV-2 isolates from newborns with a range of clinical presentations. To assess viral fitness independently of host immune factors, we measured viral growth characteristics in cultured cells and found diverse in

SUBMITTER: Akhtar LN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6393728 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature