Q43.4-2CC. - Campbell Biology

Question

People with herpes simplex type 1 viruses often get mouth sores when they have a cold or similar infection. How might this location benefit the virus?

 

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

People with herpes simplex type 1 viruses can lead to mouth sores and are likely to produce oral and nasal secretions that help spread the virus. This location benefits the virus by easily changing the location or the host in conditions of stress.

Step 1: Herpes simplex virus

Herpes simplex virus causes outbreaks of cold sores that can spread from person to person by close contact. This virus can give an example of latency inside human sensory neurons. 

Following primary infection, the virus can replicate productively within epithelial cells of the mucosa and penetrate sensory neurons.

Step 2: Severe infections of HSV

Human herpesviruses, including type 1 and type 2, can lead to a recurrent infection that can major affect the skin, mouth, genitals, or eyes. It can cause meningitis, encephalitis, oral herpes infections, and sexually transmitted diseases.

HSV type 1 can have a latency period, and its activation leads the blisters around the mouth. They can cause genital herpes and can be transmitted by oral-to-oral contact leading to oral herpes infection through close contact.

Step 3: Benefit of the location

Sickness can cause the death of the virus. Thus, the virus can change the location or leave the host when there is physiological stress and has the opportunity to find a new host at a time when the current host is not able to work correctly.