Inherited chromosomally integrated HHV6 in an adult who presented with a generalized tonic clonic seizure

HHV6 is a ubiquitous beta-herpesvirus with>95% of the population found to be seropositive in early adulthood. This virus infects a variety of host cells with a lifelong latency. HHV6 with a unique mechanism of latency, integrates its genome into the telomeres of latently infected cells as well as into the germline chromosomes, thus resulting in individuals carrying a copy of the HHV6 genome in every nucleated cell . Inherited chromosomally integrated HHV6 (iciHHV6) has been observed in 1% of the human population.

Source: Journal of the Neurological Sciences - October 3, 2023 Category: Neurology Authors: Alaa Atamna, Guy Raphaeli, Sara Dovrat, Alon Grosman, Jihad Bishara Source Type: research