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A chronic infection is a type of persistent infection that is eventually cleared, while latent or slow infections last the life of the host. There is no single mechanism responsible for establishing a persistent infection; a key feature is reduction in host defenses and the ability of the virus to kill cells.
What does it mean when a viral infection is latent?
When a virus is present in the body but exists in a resting (latent) state without producing more virus. A latent viral infection usually does not cause any noticeable symptoms and can last a long period of time before becoming active and causing symptoms.
Latent viral infections in humans include herpes simplex, varicella zoster, Epstein-Barr, human cytomegalovirus, adenovirus, and Kaposi’s sarcoma.
What are the two primary categories of persistent viral infections?
The two primary categories of persistent infections are latent infection and chronic infection. Examples of viruses that cause latent infections include herpes simplex virus (oral and genital herpes), varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox and shingles), and Epstein-Barr virus (mononucleosis).
In this article, we are going to discuss common viral infections and what you can do about them.
- The Flu. The flu is one of the most common viral infections in the world.
- Chickenpox. This is another common viral disease.
- Acute Bronchitis.
- HIV and AIDS.
- Let’s Sum It Up.
What causes latent viruses to activate?
The genome of a virus that causes latent infection of cells must be transcribed and translated into viral proteins. This occurs when the virus is reactivated from a latent stage to a lytic stage. Certain viral genes that are specific to each virus initiate this reactivation process.
While acute viral infections are short and can often be naturally resolved by the body’s immune system, persistent viral infections are long-lasting illnesses that usually cannot be eliminated without the help of proper medical treatment.
Which of the following are viruses that can become latent?
Many viruses have a propensity to cause latent infections. The majority of these viruses are from the family of Herpesviridae: herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1, HSV-2, varicella zoster virus (VZV), Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), CMV, human herpesvirus (HHV)-6, HHV-7 and Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV/HHV)-8.
Are latent viruses contagious?
Latent infections have the ability to be reactivated into a lytic form. The ability to move back and forth from latent to lytic infections helps the virus spread from infected individuals to uninfected individuals.