Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by dansky 3882 days ago
Actually not. There are multiple strains for each type. A HSV-1 "above the neck" infection does not prevent a HSV-2 infection below the neck.

http://www.jci.org/articles/view/57148

1 comments

I took gp to mean that HSV-1 "on top" renders one immune to HSV-1 below, not HSV-1 and 2 below. And that appears to be true. Interesting that 1 and 2 appear to be "assymetrically" related, from your link: "As HSV-1 and HSV-2 have similar pathogenesis and host interactions, many of the concepts for development of an effective vaccine are likely relevant to both viruses. In addition, infection with HSV-2 provides partial protection against HSV-1, although the reverse does not appear to be true, and thus there is potential for generation of cross-reactive immunity. The possibility that an HSV-2 vaccine may provide protection against HSV-1 increases its potential value and may shift the optimal time for immunization to early childhood, instead of the more problematic adolescent vaccination series." (My emphasis, references removed)

[ed: to add, I'm not entirely sure on how/if hsv-1 (the same strain of hsv-1) can "move" -- I recall sex. ed. stating that the most common cause of HSV-1 in the genitals and eyes were self-induced -- but that might have been the other way around (HSV-2 moving from the genitals to the eyes)]