[Herpes simplex virus infection: an overview of the problem, pharmacologic therapy and dietary measures]. / Infekce viru herpes simplex: prehled problematiky, farmakologická terapie a dietní opatrení.

Treatment of infectious diseases remains one of the principal research target for many researchers and healthcare providers worldwide. Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) are common human pathogens with an estimated 60-95% of the adult population infected by at least one of them. The worldwide disease burden of HSV is substantial, and acyclovir and related nucleoside analogues (viral DNA polymerase inhibitors) as therapies have led to significantly increased treatment efficacy of HSV infections. Although the treatment of HSV infection has greatly advanced through the use of nucleoside analogues therapy, the treatment efficacy has decreased significantly. This is due to the extensive use of nucleoside analogues drugs, which has created drug resistance, associated with other adverse effects as well. In this review, we aim to shed light on the HSV infection, the current pharmacologic treatment, and the use of dietary measures as alternative therapy option.Key words: HSV infection dietary measures antiviral drugs nucleoside analogues natural compounds.

Augmentation of T helper type 1 immune response through intestinal immunity in murine cutaneous herpes simplex virus type 1 infection by probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum strain 06CC2.

We previously found that Lactobacillus plantarum strain 06CC2 showed probiotic potential, and its oral administration effectively induced Th1 cytokine production and activated the Th1 immune response associated with intestinal immunity in mice. In this study, to evaluate its potential as a versatile oral adjuvant for treatment of viral infection, we assessed the immunomodulatory activity of 06CC2 on murine cutaneous herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection, in which a major immune defense system is a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction based on activation of the Th1 immune response, in relation to its oral efficacy for alleviation of herpetic symptoms. In the HSV-1 infection model, oral administration of 06CC2 (20mg/mouse) twice daily for seven days starting two days before infection was significantly effective in delaying the development of skin lesions in the early phase of infection and reducing virus yields in the brain on day 4 after infection. In addition, 06CC2 significantly augmented the DTH reaction to inactivated HSV-1 antigen and elevated interferon (IFN)-γ production by HSV-1 antigen from splenocytes. On day 2, natural killer (NK) cell activity was significantly elevated, and the elevation was still observed on day 4. Furthermore, gene expressions of interleukin-12 receptor ß2 and IFN-γ in Peyer's patches were augmented on day 4 by 06CC2 administration. Thus, 06CC2 was suggested to alleviate herpetic symptoms in mice in correlation with augmentation of the Th1 immune responses associated with NK cell activity through intestinal immunity. Strain 06CC2 may be a versatile oral adjuvant to activate Th1 immune response.

Farmacología y toxicología del alga Spirulina / Pharmacology and toxicology of the alga spirulina

La Spirulina, alga azul-verde filamentosa unicelular, ha sido consumida desde tiempos remotos en México y Africa Central, en donde crece de manera seminatural o natural. Actualmente se cultiva en algunos países por metódos sintéticos. Hasta recientemente el interés en esta alga se centraba en su valor nutritivo que mostró ser casi igual al de proteínas de otras plantas. Sin embargo, algunos estudios preclínicos sugieren que también poseen propiedades terapéuticas interesantes, tales como hipocolesterolemiante, inmunológica, antiviral y antimutagénica. Esto ha llevado a evaluaciones toxicológicas detalladas. El contenido de ácidos nucleicos y la presencia de metales, de aminas biogéncias y de compuestos químicos orgánicos, han sido negativos o están bajo de las concentraciones tolerables recomendadas por agencias internacionales de regulación de alimentos. Los experimentos en animales de toxicidad aguda, subcrónica, crónica, de reproducción, mutagenicidad y teratogenicidad, no han revelado ningún efecto adverso al alga, en todos los casos, la cantidad de Spirolina administradas a los animales fueron iguales o superiores al consumo humano. Sin embargo, hay pocos estudios de los efectos de consumo de Spirulina en humanos. Esta área necesita más estudios

Treatment of recurrent herpes simplex infections with L-lysine monohydrochloride.

In a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study of forty-one patients we found that oral ingestion of 1,248 mg a day of L-Lysine monohydrochloride shows evidence of decreasing the recurrence rate of herpes simplex attacks in nonimmunocompromised hosts. A dose of 624 mg a day was not effective. L-Lysine may also be capable of decreasing the severity of symptoms associated with recurrences. Neither dosage showed any evidence of shortening the healing time compared to placebo.