Bernard Roizman, Virologist Who Demystified Herpes, Dies at 96

Bernard Roizman’s death underscores a career that demystified herpes by mapping the virus’s genome and revealing how it invades cells. Over seven decades, including 52 years at the University of Chicago, he identified which of HSV’s 80-plus genes are essential for replication and explained how the virus hijacks host cell machinery. His work helped define molecular epidemiology by showing distinct genetic fingerprints that enable tracing transmissions and outbreaks. He died on April 13 in Chicago at age 96, leaving behind a legacy praised by colleagues as foundational to herpes research.