Herpesviruses: overview of systematics, genomic complexity and life cycle.

Abstract

Herpesviruses are double-stranded DNA viruses with distinct morphological features and are among the largest and most complex viruses. According to the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), in 2022, there were 133 herpesviruses classified into three families: Orthoherpesviridae, infecting mammals and birds; Malacoherpesviridae infecting marine molluscs; and Alloherpesviridae infecting fish and amphibians. Herpesviruses have a complex genomic architecture, characterised by unique regions flanked by repeated and inverted sequences. Unique regions can undergo rearrangements leading to the formation of genomic isomers, which could have important implications for the life cycle of the virus. Herpesviruses life cycle consists of two main phases: the lytic phase, during which viral genes are expressed and translated into viral proteins that regulate DNA replication, capsid formation and the production of new particles; and the persistence phase, in which the virus persists in the host without being eliminated by the immune system. This review offers an updated and comprehensive overview of the Herpesvirales order, detailing their morphological characteristics, providing an in-depth taxonomic classification, examining their genomic architecture and isomers, and describing their life cycle.