Herpesvirus latency confers symbiotic protection from bacterial infection.
All humans become infected with multiple herpesviruses during childhood. After clearance of acute infection, herpesviruses enter a dormant state known as latency.
Latency persists for the life of the host and is presumed to be parasitic, as it leaves the individual at risk for subsequent viral reactivation and disease.
Here we show that herpesvirus latency also confers a surprising benefit to the host. Mice latently infected with either murine gammaherpesvirus 68 or murine cytomegalovirus, which are genetically highly similar to the human pathogens Epstein-Barr virus and human cytomegalovirus, respectively, are resistant to infection with the bacterial pathogens Listeria monocytogenes and Yersinia pestis.
Latency-induced protection is not antigen specific but involves prolonged production of the antiviral cytokine interferon-gamma and systemic activation of macrophages. Latency thereby upregulates the basal activation state of innate immunity against subsequent infections.
We speculate that herpesvirus latency may also sculpt the immune response to self and environmental antigens through establishment of a polarized cytokine environment. Thus, whereas the immune evasion capabilities and lifelong persistence of herpesviruses are commonly viewed as solely pathogenic, our data suggest that latency is a symbiotic relationship with immune benefits for the host.
Citation Erik S Barton, Douglas W White, Jason S Cathelyn, Kelly A Brett-McClellan, Michael Engle, Michael S Diamond, Virginia L Miller, Herbert W Virgin. Herpesvirus latency confers symbiotic protection from bacterial infection. Nature. 2007 May 17;447(7142): 326-9
PMID: 17507983
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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Without reading the article I will bet that it is related to "Toll-like receptor family (TLR) of pattern recognition receptors of the innate immune system."
Posts: 426 | From Berkeley, CA | Registered: Feb 2009
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Pinelady
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This would be like saying that people that have herpes have a greater likely hood of being asymptomatic for a longer period of time than those that don't.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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There has been a sore in my mouth the entire time I have had lyme, presumably caused by herpesvirus. So, not sure i can believe it has positively affected the bacterial and other infections I got from the tick. The most that could be said is that possibly it kept the worst symptoms from appearing for more than two years, having only a swollen knee and the odd burning sensation at first. But not convinced of this.
I think the appearance of the cold sore with the worst lyme symptoms shows that the immune system was no longer able to keep latent infections at bay. Also had a shingles attack.
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
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GiGi
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Notice the list of "co-infections" toward the middle of the article. All have to be addressed.
Take care.
Posts: 9834 | From Washington State | Registered: Oct 2000
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GiGi
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 259
posted
Forgot to say - garlic goes a long way to do away with many of these viral infections. We took freeze dried garlic for over a year and that worked very well. Ozonated Rizoles also work well, but they were not available at that time.
Take care.
Posts: 9834 | From Washington State | Registered: Oct 2000
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