The findings, published in PLOS Pathogens, reveal that HSV-1 activates powerful antiviral defenses in the brain’s specialized immune cells, called microglia. But this response may come at a cost. As these cells shift toward fighting infection, they lose the ability to maintain a healthy brain.
“Microglia act as both the brain’s security system and its maintenance crew,” said senior author Christy Niemeyer, Ph.D., assistant professor of neurology at CU Anschutz. “When HSV-1 enters the brain, these cells shift into emergency defense mode. While this helps fight the virus, it may also compromise their ability to perform the everyday functions, even after the virus is gone.”