Herpes Animations

The following 3-D animation gives you a unique virus 'eye' view of the processes of genital herpes infection, transmission to sexual partner, and how antiviral drugs disrupt these processes to treat symptoms and reduce transmission.

Click on the following to view and download animation clips, the full animation (82 secs) or selected stills.

Guide to clips:

1&2: Initial infection (40 secs)
3: Latent infection & reactivation (20 secs)
4: Shedding (asymptomatic/symptomatic) (11 secs)
5: Valtrex mode of action (16 secs)

Click on the following to view and download
(You may need QuickTime Player to do so, click here to download)

	1		2		3
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) gains entry through abraded skin or mucosal tissue.		HSV is adept at penetrating the dermis and reaching the nerve pathways.		HSV travels nerve pathways to the nerve routes (ganglia).
	4		5
An active phase of HSV infection can produce marked skin lesions with viral shedding.		Viral replication can be blocked by antiviral drugs that disrupt DNA.		Please click on the thumbnail above if you would like to see the movie as a whole and have a broadband connection.