Herpes Simplex Virus (Sectioned)

3D Model

There are two types of herpes simplex virus: HSV-1 mainly causes cold sores, and HSV-2 mainly causes genital herpes. They are extremely common. They create short-lived and treatable infections (sores) in mucous membranes, but also cause lifelong infections of nerve cells, where they enter a dormant state called latency, occasionally producing new viruses that lead to recurrences of the sores.

Here, an HSV particle has been sectioned to show its complex internal structure and the nucleocapsid shell that contains the viral genome. It is based on data collected by McElwee et al. (2018; doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2006191).

This model was made by Rachael Suétt, working with researchers at the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research and The Glasgow School of Art.

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