SARS-CoV-2 infection and lytic reactivation of herpesviruses: A potential threat in the postpandemic era?

The outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is the causative pathogen for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, has greatly stressed our healthcare system. In addition to severe respiratory and systematic symptoms, several comorbidities increase the risk of fatal disease outcomes, including chronic viral infections. Increasing cases of lytic reactivation of human herpesviruses in COVID-19 patients and vaccinated people have been reported recently. SARS-CoV2 coinfection, COVID-19 treatments, and vaccination may aggravate those herpesvirus-associated diseases by reactivating the viruses in latently infected host cells. In this review, we summarize recent clinical findings and limited mechanistic studies regarding the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and different human herpesviruses that suggest an ongoing potential threat to human health in the postpandemic era.

Automated summary

The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 has greatly stressed the healthcare system by causing the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to respiratory and systemic symptoms, comorbidities such as chronic viral infections increase the risk of fatal outcomes. Recent reports have shown an increase in lytic reactivation of human herpesviruses in COVID-19 patients and vaccinated individuals. Coinfection, treatments, and vaccination for COVID-19 may aggravate herpesvirus-associated diseases by reactivating the latent viruses. This review summarizes recent clinical findings and limited mechanistic studies on the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and human herpesviruses, highlighting the ongoing potential threat to human health in the postpandemic era.