Prospects for control of herpes simplex virus disease through immunization

Herpes simplex viruses (HSVs) can cause a variety of infections, including genital herpes. Despite effective antiviral therapy, HSV infections remain a significant worldwide public health problem, Vaccines offer the best hope for controlling spread and limiting HSV disease, This article discusses th e pathogenesis and immunobiology of mucocutaneous HSV infections, summarize s the spectrum of diseases caused by HSV, and provides a review of the fiel d of HSV vaccine research. This article also discusses what might be realis tically expected of a vaccine intended for control of genital herpes and ex plores the question of whether a vaccine that is effective in controlling g enital HSV disease might also be effective in controlling non-genital HSV d isease. The efficacy of such vaccines for the full spectrum of HSV disease will eventually determine the timing and targeting of immunization, ranging from selective immunization in preadolescence to universal childhood immun ization as part of the routine childhood regimen.