This volume provides an overview of the latency strategies developed during the estimated 200,000 year-long coevolution of Alpha-, Beta- and Gammaherpesvirinae and their host species. While the main emphasis is on herpesviruses infecting humans, relevant cases if herpesviruses infecting animals are covered as well.

Special emphasis is given to results on molecular mechanisms regulating latent promoters of herpesvirus genomes and signals and molecular pathways resulting in reactivation of latent viral genomes.