The Evolutionary Origins of Herpes: Virus Infected Humans Before They Were Human

Scientists have uncovered the evolutionary origins of human herpes: chimpanzees. (Photo : Flickr)

Scientists have uncovered the evolutionary origins of human herpes: chimpanzees. It turns out that the human herpes simplex virus (HSV) -1 and -2 infected hominids before their evolutionary split from chimps about 6 million years ago and jumped from chimpanzees to our ancient ancestors about 1.6 million years ago.

Like Us on Facebook

About two-thirds of the human population is infected with at least one herpes simplex virus. This virus is commonly presented as cold sores on the mouth or lips or blisters on the genitals. In fact, humans are the only primates that have two herpes simplex viruses.

In order to learn more about the herpes virus, the researchers compared the HSV-1 and HSV-2 gene sequences to the family tree of simplex viruses from eight monkey and ape host species. They used advanced models of molecular evolution to estimate ancient viral divergence times. This allowed them to determine when HSV-1 and HSV-2 were introduced into humans.

"The results help us to better understand how these viruses evolved and found their way into humans," said Joel Wertheim, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Animal disease reservoirs are extremely important for global public health. Understanding where our viruses come from will help guide us in preventing future viruses from making the jump into humans."

In the end, the researchers found that HSV-2 was far more genetically similar to the herpes virus found in chimpanzees. This seemed to indicate that humans must have acquired it from an ancestor of modern chimps about 1.6 million years ago, prior to the rise of modern humans about 200,000 years ago. In contrast, HSV-1 has been present in humans for far longer.

"Comparing virus gene sequences gives us insight into viral pathogens that have been infecting us since before we were humans," said Wertheim in a news release.

The findings are published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution.

$('#aroll').carouFredSel({auto:{play:true,duration:2000},height:171,scroll:{items:1,fx:"crossfade",pauseOnHover:true},swipe:{onTouch:true}});$('#inner250').append('Related Articles First NASA Spacecraft to Measure Carbon Dioxide Levels in Earth\'s Atmosphere Tiny Plants May Ride on the Feathers of Migratory Birds for Thousands of Miles ');©2014 ScienceWorldReport.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The window to the world of science news.

View the original article here

Herpes infected humans before they were human

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified the evolutionary origins of human herpes simplex virus (HSV) -1 and -2, reporting that the former infected hominids before their evolutionary split from chimpanzees 6 million years ago while the latter jumped from ancient chimpanzees to ancestors of modern humans -- Homo erectus -- approximately 1.6 million years ago.

The findings are published in the June 10 online issue of Molecular Biology and Evolution.

"The results help us to better understand how these viruses evolved and found their way into humans," said Joel O. Wertheim, PhD, assistant research scientist at the UC San Diego AntiViral Research Center and lead author of the study. "Animal disease reservoirs are extremely important for global public health. Understanding where our viruses come from will help guide us in preventing future viruses from making the jump into humans."

Approximately two-thirds of the human population is infected with at least one herpes simplex virus. The viruses are most commonly presented as cold sores on the mouth or lips or blisters on the genitals.

"Humans are the only primates we know of that have two herpes simplex viruses," said Wertheim. "We wanted to determine why."

The researchers compared the HSV-1 and HSV-2 gene sequences to the family tree of simplex viruses from eight monkey and ape host species. Using advanced models of molecular evolution, the scientists were able to more accurately estimate ancient viral divergence times. This approach allowed them to determine when HSV-1 and HSV-2 were introduced into humans with far more precision than standard models that do not account for natural selection over the course of viral evolution.

The genetics of human and primate herpes viruses were examined to assess their similarity. It became clear that HSV-1 has been present in humans far longer than HSV-2, prompting the researchers to further investigate the origins of HSV-2 in humans.

The viral family tree showed that HSV-2 was far more genetically similar to the herpes virus found in chimpanzees. This level of divergence indicated that humans must have acquired HSV-2 from an ancestor of modern chimpanzees about 1.6 million years ago, prior to the rise of modern humans roughly 200,000 years ago.

"Comparing virus gene sequences gives us insight into viral pathogens that have been infecting us since before we were humans," said Wertheim.

Co-authors include Martin D. Smith and Sergei L. Kosakovsky Pond, UC San Diego; Davey M. Smith, UC San Diego and Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System; Konrad Scheffler, UC San Diego and Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

Funding for this research came from the University of California Laboratory Fees Research Program (grant 12-LR-236617), the National Institutes of Health (grants DA034978 and GM093939), the Bioinformatics and Information Technologies Core of the UC San Diego Center for AIDS Research (P30 AI036214), and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

View the original article here

Natural Genital Herpes Treatment Method: Secrets of Oxygenation of Human Body

Natural cures for genital herpes, as some think, may or may not exist. With no recognized method of a complete cure at sight, a successful treatment method remains an elusive dream for those who are praying for it everyday. In such a precarious situation, people who are suffering from cold sores and herpes are ready to try anything at sight.

Why A Natural Treatment Method For Genital Herpes?

A natural method, considered to be harmless, remains a viable alternative to anti-viral method of treatment.

Why?

A suppressive method of treatment which only concentrates on alleviation of symptoms, can not make any positive change inside the body, but surely contributes negatively. The herpes virus, works insidiously to weaken our health day by day, so exposing us to other killer diseases such as HIV, Dementia, Alzheimer's disease etc. The treatment available is as bad as if not worse than maintaining the status quo. This makes a natural Genital Herpes Treatment Method more relevant and more reliable.

Dr. Otto Warbugh's Research

The herpes virus is anaerobic. It means it cannot exist in an elevated oxygen environment within the body. Increasing the body's alkalinity (pH) will suppress the genital herpes and oral herpes virus (HSV2 and HSV1 respectively) to levels where one will not experience outbreaks.

We can then deduce from the above findings that the reduction of acid levels and the increase of oxygen levels in the body can provide an environment hostile enough for these viruses to render them ineffective. This method can give rise to a successful and cost effective method of herpes treatment.

The method proven by Dr. Otto Warbugh's research is comprised of several parts. It starts with the overall theory and the process of this particular herpes treatment and is followed by several key natural ingredients to be used in diet for this natural Genital Herpes treatment.

Following are two out of the three of these ingredients.

B.O.L -- A stabilized liquid oxygen (SLO) productAlkalife

The Treatment Concept

Decreasing acidic intake along with taking B.O.L:

This will assist in the process of increasing the body's pH. B.O.L. has a very high pH level compared with other SLO products varying between 12 to 13.7. This ensures more oxygen level inside body which the herpes virus cannot handle.

A pH level of 7.45 is minimum requirement for the HSV to go inert. Average people with acidic diets will generally have a very low pH and will need to raise it to at least 7.45, an oxygen rich level where the herpes virus cannot exist.

Alkalife Substitution in diet:

Many drinks we consume are acidic, and sometimes due to personal compulsions we want to consume these acidic liquids. This includes tea, coffee, beer, wine and most alcoholic drinks. Alkalife when added our favorite drink like coffee or beer will reduce the acid levels to a point where our body can handle the build up of waste acid.

This method is very simple and sometimes may seem too simple to be of any good. I want to draw your attention to the fact that all complex things are not useful either. We have to judge things basing on their merit alone, not basing on their simplicity.

Himanshu Sekhar Satapathy belongs to an Ayurvedic gharana in Orissa, India. He learned the intricacies of Ayurvedic medicine from both his maternal and paternal grand parents.

For more information on genital herpes, cold sores and natural herpes treatment methods, visit his Genital Herpes Cures blog. It is a place of great information on genital herpes and cold sores.

View the original article here