MicroRNAs expressed by herpes simplex virus 1 during latent infection regulate viral mRNAs

The cold sore virus HSV-1 (herpes simplex virus 1) is notorious for its ability to lie dormant for months or years, allowing it to maintain life-long latent infections. The viral gene LAT, is known to be a key factor in inducing dormancy and now its non-coding RNA product has been identified as a precursor to four microRNAs (miRNAs), one of which appears to switch off viral gene expression in latently infected neurons. A second miRNA, not coded by LAT but with similar activity was also discovered. This raises the possibility that drugs based on blocking these miRNAs could in theory 'wake up, the virus, making them vulnerable to antiviral therapy.