A new study has revealed that the Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1), responsible for cold sores, can hijack and reorganise human DNA within just one hour of infection. Researchers found that the virus quickly restructures the internal workings of infected cells, enabling it to reproduce more effectively. This discovery may pave the way for innovative treatments that could curb the spread and long-term presence of HSV-1 in the human body.
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HSV-1 is carried by approximately two-thirds of people under 50 and, once contracted, remains in the body for life. While the infection is often mild or symptomless—typically resulting in recurring cold sores—it can, in rare cases, cause severe conditions such as blindness or life-threatening infections in newborns and immunocompromised individuals. Recent findings also suggest a potential link between HSV-1 and the development of dementia in older adults.
Published in Nature Communications, the research demonstrates that HSV-1 is capable of deliberately reshaping the host genome’s structure. This allows the virus to access and exploit specific genes required for its replication. Using advanced techniques such as super-resolution microscopy and DNA interaction mapping, scientists observed that HSV-1 manipulates key human enzymes, including RNA polymerase II, within hours of infection. They also discovered that blocking a single enzyme, topoisomerase I, entirely halted the virus’s ability to reorganise the host’s DNA—offering a promising new avenue for therapeutic intervention.
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These findings highlight HSV-1’s sophisticated ability to re-engineer the human genome, confirming it is not merely a side effect of infection, but a calculated viral strategy. The researchers hope their work can support the development of targeted treatments to reduce the burden of HSV-1, which affects nearly four billion people globally and continues to present a major public health concern.
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