The pathogenesis of the genital herpes simplex virus infection.

This review discusses some of the many virus- and host-specified biological characteristics with an impact on the pathogenesis and the natural course of the genital herpesvirus infection. Thus the influence of some virus genetic factors is evaluated, the present state of what is known about conditions affecting establishment and reactivation of latency is related and, finally, some aspects on the importance for the pathogenesis of some immune reactions and the immunological surveillance of the reactivated infection are commented.