Aussie scientists step closer to cure for the herpes virus

Australian researchers believe they've cracked the code which could lead to keeping the dreaded herpes virus, which causes cold sores, at bay for good.

The herpes simplex virus (HSV) is known to remain dormant in an infected person's nerve cells long after any cold sores have healed, and scientists at the Australian National University (ANU) have discovered that, even while dormant, the herpes genes are constantly trying to re-energize the infection.

Professor David Tscharke from the ANU told the Australian Associated Press (AAP) that now scientists understand how the gene behaves, work can begin on how to stop the infection - which affects up to 70 percent of people aged 50 and below, from coming back for good.

"If the virus was to stay dormant for ever that would be a very good thing because obviously you would not be getting recurrent lesions," Tscharke said on Wednesday.

"If people get this infection in their eye it is particularly troublesome because the recurrent infection scars the cornea, so if you have too many occurrences it can cause blindness."

He said while there hasn't been a lot of progress in permanently destroying the herpes virus in recent times, this new discovery could speed up the development of a more permanent cure.

Currently there is no cure for the herpes virus, rather, a number of different antiviral solutions which manage symptoms. Despite the symptom management, the genes are continuously trying to force the reappearance of lesions.

Around 3.7 billion people under 50 years of age have HSV-1 - the herpes strain which causes cold sores, while an estimated 417 million people aged 15-29 worldwide are infected with HSV-2, or genital herpes. Endit