Patent attributes
A mutant virus of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) can include a mutant protein involved in replication so as to impair or inhibit replication of HSV-1. The mutant HSV-1 can have a mutation in at least one phosphorylation site of a protein involved in replication in order to inhibit phosphorylation of the site so as to prohibit or impair replication of HSV-1 and/or the clinical severity of HSV-1-mediated diseases. The mutant protein can be a mutant ICP0 that has reduced or inhibited posttranslational phosphorylation. The mutant HSV-1 and/or mutant ICP0 can be used in vaccines or other pharmaceutical preparations to treat, limit and/or prevent HSV-1 infection. The mutant HSV-1 and/or mutant ICP0 can also be used in screening and/or developing anti-HSV-1 agents.