Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or human herpesvirus type 1 (HHV-1) is an extensively studied herpesvirus that causes a variety of human diseases from harmless skin manifestations, such as oral and facial lesions to severe infection of the central nervous system (CNS). The majority of primary HSV-1 infections occur during childhood and infection is never completely eradicated from the organism over time . Over 60% of people under 50 are estimated to be infected with HSV-1 worldwide .