Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) has a unique way of replicating itself by reshaping the human genome’s architecture. According to a study published in Nature Communications, researchers have discovered that HSV-1 deliberately rearranges host genes within hours of infection.
The study, led by Dr. Esther González Almela and Pia Cosma at the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona, used super-resolution microscopy and Hi-C techniques to investigate how HSV-1 hijacks human cells. They found that the virus takes over the host’s cellular machinery to produce its own proteins and access useful genes.
However, blocking a single host enzyme called topoisomerase I completely halted HSV-1’s ability to reshape the human genome during infection. This discovery represents a new potential strategy to control HSV-1, which infects nearly four billion people worldwide.
In cell culture, inhibiting topoisomerase I stopped the infection before the virus could make a single new particle. This finding provides a new therapeutic target for stopping HSV-1 infections. The study’s results suggest that the relationship between gene expression and chromatin structure is more complex than previously thought, with transcription leading to DNA compaction rather than the other way around.
HSV-1 is a significant global health challenge due to its prevalence and ability to cause recurrent outbreaks. While treatments are available to manage symptoms, drug-resistant strains are on the rise, and there is no cure for the virus. The study’s findings offer hope for new therapeutic approaches to combat HSV-1.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-herpes-virus-reshapes-human-genome.html