While I may have to find out how to live with it for now, I would like hope. That there are doctors, studies, researches and scientists out there on the job and trying to discover a way to eradicate the virus.

Seeing that description out there that this is no cure, just adds to the depression... we need hope.

There is some hope -- an offshoot of Bayer has been formed that is researching antivirals intensively, and have already discovered a compound that is an order of magnitude better than Valtrex or Famvir in suppressing HSV-1 and 2 (only), using helicase-primase inhibition. Animal studies show that it has a very low side effect profile, and it is also effective for many strains of HSV-2 that are resistant to present-day antivirals. It will take a couple more years before human trials are complete and the product is taken to market. Of course, there may be problems with the human trials or other delays. But in a few short years, all going well, this will alleviate painful and unpleasant symptoms enormously, and will be a good suppressive treatment to prevent further spread of the disease as well. It's not a 'cure', it is another challenge altogether to chase down the virus in your nerve cells and deal with it. There is always ongoing research into cures or treatments for other viruses also, including HIV, Hep C, and so on, and science is getting better at both understanding how viruses work and developing new compounds to interfere with them.

This is a good thread to collect information about the latest research that is being done.

dl5-29 UL4:
Disruption of the U(L)41 gene [...]
(WO/2007/016239) HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS MUTANT AND USES THEREFORE
Success of herpes vaccine builds momentum for human trials | Science Blog

The herpes simplex virus 2 dl5-29 replication-defective mutant virus has been shown to induce protective immunity in mice and both prophylactic and therapeutic immunity in guinea pigs. In an attempt to improve the efficacy of dl5-29 we disrupted its U(L)41 gene, producing the triple mutant virus dl5-29-41L. dl5-29-41L has a decreased ability to inhibit host cell protein synthesis and a reduced cytopathic effect on cultured cells. When used to immunize mice, dl5-29-41L elicited significantly stronger neutralizing antibody responses and significantly stronger CD4(+) and CD8(+) cellular immune responses than dl5-29. The enhanced immune responses corresponded with increased protective capacity in a murine model of genital herpes. The protective immunity elicited by either virus was very durable, protecting mice for at least 7 months. Furthermore, we show that cell lysate preparations of both viruses were significantly more efficacious than the corresponding extracellular virus preparations.

Research at Montana University by William Halford:
Research holds promise for herpes vaccine | Science Blog
Research holds promise for herpes vaccine

A study by a Montana State University researcher suggests a new avenue for developing a vaccine against genital herpes and other diseases caused by herpes simplex viruses.

In a study published earlier this year in the Virology Journal, MSU virologist William Halford showed that mice vaccinated with a live, genetically-modified herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) showed no signs of disease 30 days after being exposed to a particularly lethal "wild-type" strain of the virus.

A good blog, where I also posted this:
Herpes Cure

The question is why research such as the ones I've linked to haven't got that much publicity. I know that the companies are making big money through people that are dependant on drugs that control outbreaks, but there are still a lot of people suffering. So, if information is spread, and people realise that there might be a solution to it rather than a means to control it, perhaps it can rally enough popular oppinion to put pressure on companies to actually compete for _the_ solution.

For the ladies:
Herpevac Trial for Women

It is estimated that one out of four adult American women has genital herpes, and this percentage is rising. Because there is no medication that eliminates the herpes virus, an investigational vaccine is being developed and researched to help stop transmission of genital herpes. ("Investigational" means the vaccine is currently being tested and is not yet approved for sale by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.) This vaccine does not contain live virus and cannot cause herpes infection. It has passed preliminary testing for safety and effectiveness and is now in its final phase of clinical trials.

The dl5-29 UL4 is of what I've found the latest and in my opinion the most interesting research being done at the moment. Keep spreading the word so that the research gets more publicity and more people pushing it forward. Anybody with more knowledge about virology and biology can point out its flaws, since we do not want to raise hopes in vain. Also, any other research is welcomed, so keep posting it here people. Hope is also important. The dl5-29 UL4 research is something that has given me hope.

Btw, another good message board for more reading about the latest research:
Herpes Clinical Trials - Herpes & Cold Sore Support Forum

The vaccine approach has a couple of issues, and does not help if you already have HSV-1 or 2. The vaccine that I have heard about under development only works for women, and only if they do not have HSV-1 to begin with -- something that as many as 80% of people eventually have. Hence, it is wise to immunise girls earlier in life. Further, it is not clear how long the immunity will last, nor whether you really are covered -- some people may never develop immunity. Receiving the vaccine is not a green light for taking risks with unsafe sex, either, as for the HPV vaccine.

The most promising latest anti-viral research has been the research that attacks the helicase-primase part of the reproduction cycle of the virus, as noted in my post above. While apparently an extremely effective inhibitor of the virus, it does not 'cure' it. Other research is bringing to light more about how the virus hooks into nerve cells, etc, and a perfect 'magic bullet' cure would of course kill the virus once and for all.

The other arm of prevention would be for more people to get the IgG HSV-2 specific antibody test in STI blood workups, so that they would know if they were infected and therefore likely to pass the virus on. Currently doctors don't use this test very often. Some people know they are infected and don't worry about infecting others, others are much more concerned and careful. However, a positive result to the IgG test and taking the helicase-primase inhibitor drug would serve to reduce new infection rates in the community dramatically.

There is apparently also a microcidal gel under development which kills the HSV-2 virus on contact, which would also help prevent transmission in a similar way to the vaccine -- without the problems listed above concerning the vaccine, but requiring consistent use.

Readers also have to beware sites like this being used to link to 'quack cures' on the Internet.

As with the dl5-29 UL41 and research being done at Florida University, right?
University of Florida Office of Technology Licensing - Novel Method for Preventing Recurrence of Herpes Simplex Virus

Basically, the immune response to the vaccine is strong enough to hold it at bay so that it can't 'reproduce' enough to cause, for example, shedding or sores? Using me as an example, if I was to take such a vaccine (of course assuming a potent vaccine has been brought forth), as well as letting an uninfected partner take it, the risk of passing it on to my partner is practically zero. Am I correct?

First, the virus would be not be able to 'reproduce' in me.

Second, any sign of the virus in my partner would be dealt with by my partners strengthened immune system.

Of course, in my case, I doesn't kill it since it's still in my nerves, but as long as it doesn't cause any sores, in addition to me not being able to infect my partner, then that is a good enough solution for me, no doubt.

Assuming I am thinking correctly about the nature of the vaccine.

Edit:
After reading a response at Herpes Cold Sores message board, it seems my thoughts about the dl5-29 were incorrect, but that the research that Florida University is pushing for fits my presumptions better, since it does prohibit the virus from 'reproducing'.

Existing antiviral treatments must be taken during recurring infections and only curtail the severity and timeframe of symptoms; by contrast, the therapy at hand prevents recurrence. The novel approach of this technology is its employment of hammerhead ribozymes, RNA enzymes that can cleave mRNA, deactivating it and leaving it to be digested by the intracellular degradation mechanism. These ribozymes target sequences in several genes of the herpes virus and block viral replication. Defective forms of the herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1) function as vectors to deliver the ribozymes to cells capable of sustaining infection. The technology can potentially to be used as a preventative vaccine against all outbreaks.

That's an interesting development too. There were several strands of research going in different directions on inhibiting aspects of the reproductive cycle of the virus, and even its methods of invading nerve cells in the first place. Aicuris, an offshoot of Bayer, are frantically working on bringing their potent anti-viral to market, which is an order of magnitude better than Valtrex or Famvir, but it would also have to be taken regularly, but probably not daily.

I take back what I said about the limits of vaccine research, as I'm one version behind -- concerning only a subset of women without HSV-1 being eligible for protection. These novel approaches are in the realm of science fiction compared with traditional vaccination processes of stimulating immunity.

The two approaches here appear to be:

1) use a deactivated (non-replicating) HSV vaccine to trigger an immune response on the T-cell arm of immunity, something that doesn't happen with a regular virus -- although I have some autoimmune fears about that

2) in the U.Fl proposal, use a deactivated (non-replicating) HSV vaccine as a delivery vector for a gene therapy approach which actively produces ribosomal proteins which will perpetually block a 'real' HSV virus in vivo. My question is which cells are meant to be producing the hammerhead ribozymes as a 'factory'? The nerve cells themselves? Have they developed this technology in animal models yet, or is it still a thought experiment?

The U.Fl proposed vaccine looks like it's lifelong, and it seems to use an HSV-1 virus to visit the same infected nerve cells and deliver a payload of the mRNA to inhibit the virus from then on. They're both a bit scary as a preventative vaccine, because they require you to be infected with a deformed strain of HSV-1 or -2 for life, and doing other strange things with immunity or ribosomal protein production. We'll all have X-Men powers before this is over.

Note that vaccines conventionally train the immune system to develop antibodies to a particular pathogen, whereas this approach is more like immunisation by injecting a rogue (or 'good') virus which lives with you forever, or else modifies your genes. There would be some safety aspects with developing vaccine 1), as it stimulates T-cells to attack infected cells -- I don't know if I want my own T-cells attacking too many of the nerve cells in my back and neck -- this is how auto-immune problems like MS and arthritis come about -- which could end up disabling you if unlucky. I'd say they will have to do a hell of a lot of longitudinal safety testing in animals before they can do human tests, let alone go to market.

Unfortunately, the drug-based anti-virals also tend to have side effects to varying degrees -- the worst I've commonly seen is that Valtrex causes hair loss, and Famvir causes somnolence, with other less common side effects possible.

There seems to have been testing on animals with promising results:
Herpes & Cold Sore Support Forum - View Single Post - For everyone following the proposed "cure" from Un

I wouldn't mind being a test subject for such a vaccine; like a space monkey, being shot into space. For the greater good.

Then again, who knows if it'll mutate. But isn't that a problem with most vaccines and medicine. As mentioned, if it's been tested on animals and the next stage would be human trials, I'd definitely want to take part of it.

Go into google: Type Licorice and BHT or licorice and herpes.

There have been many Science articles on how licorice root or (GA extract) for those with high blood pressure and BHT a food preservative can kill the lipid coating of the cell. I have a compilation of articles on LicoriceBHT.com.

Zovirax(sp) at 90 bucks a shot and the rest of creams make it go back into remission. This vitamin for any vitamin shop and BHT you can google online can kill it... No miracle cream, no miracle pill... so far.. so good.

Does anybody know the specifics of the vaccine technology currently available in Europe? Does it have the same x-men kind of problems, or is it a more traditional vaccine? Are the vaccines available in Europe only available to women who haven't had HSV I or II, or can men get them as well?