Study: Couples

Immunological and Genetic Resistance to HSV

Purpose: To learn more about genetic resistance to genital herpes. The long-term goals of this research are to determine whether some people are capable of resisting HSV infection and find out what genetic factors may be responsible for resistance to infection.

Study Visits and Procedures: Participants are screened for herpes. If they qualify and decide to participate, the study lasts for 3 months and we will ask you to come to the clinic each month for 3 visits. These visits will include a blood draw and genital samples. The partner with genital herpes will also be asked to do daily swabs at home for 60 days, to find out how often he/she sheds the virus.

Depending on the results from testing done during these 3 months we may ask you to participate in a second phase of the study, which will require visits similar to the first phase every 3 months for 2 years.