[Study of alpha-herpesvirus: present state and future developments]

The herpesvirus is a ubiquitous infectious agent present in a variety of vertebrates including humans. The virus has a duplex DNA molecule of 120-240 kbp within an icosahedral capsid surrounded by an envelope. Latency is a central feature of herpesvirus biology. Studies of herpesviruses relate to 1) diagnosis, prevention, and the treatment of diseases associated with herpesvirus infections, 2) elucidation of biological mechanisms of mammalian cells using herpesviruses, 3) construction of vaccine and vector systems for gene therapy, and 4) establishment of putative associations of herpesviruses with host organisms during evolution (suggesting the host-linked evolution of herpesvirus).