The Effects of Long-Term Antiherpetic Treatment in Herpes Simplex Virus-1 & -2 Through Drug Resistance and Cell Toxicity

Abstract

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type-1 and -2 infections are a global epidemic, with 90% of the population worldwide being infected and developing countries suffering a near 100% infection rate. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition is three times more likely if an HSV-2 infection is already established. While there are current treatments for HSV, a life-long infection, there is much improvement to be made using more efficient treatments. Rod-shaped implants would be created in varying ratios of drug:polymer (polycaprolactone) for three antiherpetics: acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir. These implants would be used in an in vitro drug release study to determine the most effective ratio. A long-term drug treatment experiment, using these implants, would determine if/when drug resistant viral strains develop and to evaluate cell toxicity. The caspase and MTT assay are cell viability assays that will be used for the evaluation of cell toxicity. If drug resistant strains develop, they will be selected to be sequenced and repeated experimentally to compare to the initial strain used.