Possible Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) treatment 2025
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) causes lifelong infection by establishing latency in the trigeminal ganglia, leading to recurrent cold sores. The immune system, particularly cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, controls HSV-1 but does not eliminate it; when this immune control breaks down, the virus can reactivate. Current antiviral drugs cannot cure HSV-1, and vaccine development efforts have been unsuccessful. The authors propose using non-thermal plasma (NTP) directly on HSV-1-infected cells as a new therapeutic approach. Their research shows that NTP has antiviral effects, triggers cellular stress, and can enhance immune responses, which might lead to less viral persistence and stronger CD8+ T cell activity against HSV-1 in the body. The long-term aim is better immune control and fewer recurrences of HSV-1 infection.
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