Herpes simplex and HIV are excellent examples of which of the following?
Herpes simplex and HIV are excellent examples of viruses that can cause chronic infections in humans. Once a person is infected with either of these viruses, the infection is lifelong.
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) can cause oral and genital herpes, leading to blisters and sores. Even when symptoms are not present, the virus can persist in a dormant state within the body's nerve cells and can reactivate at various times.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) attacks the immune system and can lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) if not treated. While antiretroviral therapy can suppress the viral load in an infected person's body to undetectable levels, the virus remains integrated into the host's genome within T cells and other reservoirs, from where it can rebound if treatment is interrupted.
Both HSV and HIV have mechanisms that allow them to evade complete clearance by the immune system, contributing to their persistence in the host for life.