This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Over 20% of U.S. adults are infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), a chronic, sexually transmitted viral infection that causes genital herpes. Although genital HSV-2 shedding may be associated with viral transmission, no prior investigations have examined how shedding varies over the course of a day during a recurrence, nor how quickly shedding ceases after antiviral treatment has begun. In an exploratory study to investigate these questions, we will admit 20 HSV-2 seropositive persons (10 women and 10 men) to the University of Washington General Clinical Research Center within 24 hours of the emergence of recurrent genital herpes lesions, start them on oral acyclovir, and collect swabs of genital secretions for HSV-2 DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) every 2 hours during the day and every 4 hours at night, for 5 days. These data will be used to calculate the half-life of detectable HSV-2 DNA in genital mucosa after treatment with acyclovir has begun, and to describe the pattern of resolution of shedding.
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