gD protein

Herpesvirus infections are acquired through person-to-person contact and the site of entry is skin and/or mucous membranes. The viruses bind to cellular receptors via proteins expressed on the surface of virions, including gD, and interaction of these virus receptors with host receptors triggers the events of virus fusion and host cell infection. Once infection is established in the host, the virus can infect multiple cell types and can cause disease ranging from localized blistering (vesicles), such as is seen in a cold sore, local spread of vesicular rash, dissemination of the vesicular rash, invasion of the W bloodstream, infection of internal organs (including the liver), and infection of the central nervous system (including the brain). More extensive disease is associated with increasing degrees of morbidity and mortality.