herpes simplex virus n 1: a herpes virus that affects the skin and nervous system [syn: {herpes simplex}, {herpes simplex virus}]
Herpesvirus \Her"pes*vir`us\, n. (Med.) any of several dozen DNA-containing virus of the family {Herpetoviridae}, including among them such human-disease-causing agents as {Herpes simplex virus} causing oral and genital {herpes}, {varicella-zoster virus} ({Herpes zoster virus}) causing shingles and chickenpox (varicella), {Epstein-Barr virus} (EB virus) causing infectious mononucleosis, and {Cytomegalovirus}. [PJC]