Possible Herpes Cure Found Through Gene Therapy

A groundbreaking gene therapy could soon cure herpes after eliminating up to 97% of infections in mice. Herpes viruses cause cold sores in the mouth or blisters near the genitals and lie dormant in nerve cells to reactivate later. Scientists in Seattle have developed a treatment using gene-editing molecules that specifically destroy the herpes DNA in nerve cells. This innovative approach from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center could prevent virus reactivation and reduce transmission risk. Current antiviral drugs only combat outbreaks without eliminating the virus. "We use a meganuclease enzyme that cuts the herpes virus DNA at two different locations. These cuts damage the virus so much that it cannot repair itself. Then the body's repair systems recognize the damaged DNA as foreign and eliminate it," explains study co-author Dr. Martine Aubert.