Human Herpesvirus 6

The development of techniques for the culture of lymphoid cells and the isolation of viruses that infect these cells led to the discovery of human herpesvirus (HHV) 6 in 1986. At the time, HHV-6 was the first new human herpesvirus to be discovered in roughly a quarter of a century, and its isolation...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical infectious diseases 2001-09, Vol.33 (6), p.829-833
Main Authors: Strausbaugh, Larry J., Caserta, Mary T., Mock, David J., Dewhurst, Stephen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
AIDS
AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - etiology
Biological and medical sciences
Bone Marrow Transplantation - adverse effects
Central Nervous System Infections - etiology
Children
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Emerging Infections
Encephalitis
Exanthema
Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic - complications
Herpesviridae
Herpesviridae Infections - epidemiology
Herpesviridae Infections - etiology
Herpesvirus 6, Human
Human herpesvirus 6
Human viral diseases
Humans
Immunocompromised Host
Infections
Infectious diseases
Medical sciences
T lymphocytes
Transplantation Immunology
Viral diseases
Viral diseases of the nervous system
Viruses
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Summary:The development of techniques for the culture of lymphoid cells and the isolation of viruses that infect these cells led to the discovery of human herpesvirus (HHV) 6 in 1986. At the time, HHV-6 was the first new human herpesvirus to be discovered in roughly a quarter of a century, and its isolation marked the beginning of an era of discovery in herpesvirology, with the identification of HHV-7 and HHV-8 (Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus) during the following decade. Like most human herpesviruses, HHV-6 is ubiquitous and capable of establishing a lifelong, latent infection of its host. HHV-6 is particularly efficient at infecting infants and young children, and primary infection with the virus is associated with roseola infantum (exanthem subitum) and, most commonly, an undifferentiated febrile illness. Viral reactivation in the immunocompromised host has been linked to a variety of diseases, including encephalitis, and HHV-6 has been tentatively associated with multiple sclerosis. This article discusses the major properties of HHV-6, its association with human disease, and the pathobiological significance of viral reactivation.
ISSN:1058-4838
1537-6591
DOI:10.1086/322691