Make a list of all the diseases that are caused by the various strains of the herpes virus and then you'll understand the universe of applications.

Herpesvirus family types

Herpesvirus family types

Herpes simplex type I (HSV-1).

Herpes simplex type II (HSV-2).

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV/HHV-3).

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV/HHV-4).

Cytomegalovirus (CMV/HHV-5).

Herpesvirus type 6 (HBLV/HHV-6).

Herpesvirus type 7 (HHV-7).

Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV/HHV-8).

Herpesviridae is a large family of DNA viruses that cause diseases in animals, including humans. [1] [2] [3] The members of this family are also known as herpesviruses. The family name is derived from the Greek word herpein ("to creep"), referring to the latent, recurring infections typical of this group of viruses. Herpesviridae can cause latent or lytic infections.

At least five species of Herpesviridae – HSV-1 and HSV-2 (both of which can cause orolabial herpes and genital herpes), varicella zoster virus (the cause of chickenpox and shingles), Epstein-Barr virus (implicated in several diseases, including mononucleosis and some cancers), and cytomegalovirus – are extremely widespread among humans. More than 90% of adults have been infected with at least one of these, and a latent form of the virus remains in most people. [4] [5] [6]

There are 9 herpesvirus types known to infect humans: herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2, HSV-1 and HSV-2, (also known as HHV1 and HHV2), varicella-zoster virus (VZV, which may also be called by its ICTV name, HHV-3), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV or HHV-4), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV or HHV-5), human herpesvirus 6A and 6B ( HHV-6A and HHV-6B), human herpesvirus 7 ( HHV-7), and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV, also known as HHV-8). [7] In total, there are more than 130 herpesviruses, [8] some of them from mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and mollusks. [7]