The mystique of the herpesviruses.

Probing the biologic mystique of the herpesvirus family, we find elements of antigenic similarity, the capacity of virions to persist within our cells in complete form, and the potential at some later time for these virions to undergo renewed replication. A venereal mode of transmission from one host to another may be characteristic of some of these viruses. Similar patterns of illness may be produced by several of the herpesviruses. Within the cellular framework of inflammation and necrosis which infective virus may evoke in the host, there may also reside the capability of neoplastic transformation.