Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Porcine Corneal Tissue Explant to Study the Efficacy of Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Antivirals
Published on: September 20, 2021
How herpes simplex virus type 1 rescinds corneal privilege
Andrew J Lepisto1, Gregory M Frank, Robert L Hendricks
1Departments of Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa., USA.
Abstract:
Properties of the cornea such as a lack of blood and lymphatic vessels, a lack of professional antigen-presenting cells, and exposure to immunosuppressive factors in the aqueous humor contribute to a relative state of immune privilege. Ironically, corneal damage and the accompanying visual morbidity following herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection does not results from uncontrolled viral replication, but from an immunoinflammatory process referred to as herpes stromal keratitis (HSK). This review highlights changes in the immune-privileged status of the cornea following HSV-1 infection that contribute to HSK.
Related Concept Videos
Herpes
Genital Herpes
Chickenpox
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Cytomegalovirus Disease

