Overview

• The virus hijacks RNA polymerase II within the first hour of infection to drive viral protein synthesis.
• Host chromatin collapses under stolen transcription machinery, compacting the genome to 30% of its original volume by eight hours.
• Inhibiting the DNA-cutting enzyme topoisomerase I completely stopped HSV-1 from reorganizing host DNA, preventing new viral particle formation in vitro.
• Nearly four billion people carry HSV-1, with rising drug resistance leaving existing therapies limited to symptom management without a cure.
• Researchers propose that targeting topoisomerase I could also disrupt similar genome-manipulation tactics used by other DNA viruses.