ABSTRACT
Amongst the DNA viruses, the herpesvirus family has been perhaps the most extensively studied in terms of genetics and pathogenesis, and will therefore be the primary focus for this chapter. It is clear therefore, that despite the large number of clinically important herpesviruses, there are only a few viruses with both a simple reverse genetics system and a tractable animal model for studying pathogenesis. The major focus of this chapter will be on HSV-1, although examples of other herpesviruses will be given where appropriate. A particular emphasis is given to how the use of recombinant viruses has elucidated the immune evasion strategies of herpesviruses, and where their use in combination with appropriate knockout mice has been particularly informative to elucidate both viral and host determinants of pathogenesis. Studies using animal models and observations of human infections have resulted in the so-called "2018;classical theory" of HSV pathogenesis.
