Herpes To Human: 'Please Be More of a Slut'

In chapter 5 of her book, Survival of the Sickest, Dr. Sharon Moalem writes about certain types of bacteria who disguise themselves inside the body through something called "moleculor mimicry." By imitating human cells, these bacteria can coerce the immune system into attacking the body’s own healthy cells.

For example, bacteria that cause rheumatic fever can cause the body to attack the part of the brain that controls movement, leading its victims to develop a tic and uncontrollably touch objects around them, thus allowing the virus to spread more efficiently.

So in order to better reproduce, these bacteria alter the behavior of their human host. It’s called "host manipulation," and some scientists think that the herpes virus can also change human behavior, making its victims sluttier — and therefore more likely to spread the virus:

One very new avenue of research is exploring the striking possibility that sexually transmitted diseases may actually influence sexual behavior…From the sexually transmitted parasite’s point of view, it may want you to have more sex…

In addition to altering your sexual behavior and making you act even sluttier, herpes might also amplify the sex organs’ sensations. "In other words," Dr. Moalem writes, "sometimes the herpes virus may want you to get some action." So ask yourself: Do you have herpes because you’re a slut? Or are you a slut because you have herpes? Also: Why are you such a fucking slut?

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