According to a study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, C21orf91 gene has been found to be associated with frequent cold sores, reports the Huffington Post.

The first gene linked with herpes related cold sores was identified by a team of researchers from the University of Utah and the University of Massachusetts, notes the American news website.

The online newspaper learns that herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) lies dormant in the nerve cell body and causes cold sores on or around the mouth when reactivated.

There is “no cure for HSV-1” and it becomes difficult to “predict or prevent” cold sore outbreaks, the Huffington Post quotes Dr. John D. Kriesel, lead study author and M.D., research associate professor of infectious diseases at the University of Utah School of Medicine.

The study conducted by Kriesel and his team involved analysing data from the gene sequences from 618 study participants, out of which around 355 were known to be infected with HSV-1.

As reported by the US based internet newspaper, researchers identified four major variations of obscure gene, C21orf91, out of which two were protective against HSV-1 reactivation, while the other two were found to be linked with frequent cold sore outbreaks.

It may be noted that presently, people with frequent cold sores are treated with antiviral medications used for genital herpes treatment like Famvir and Valtrex. The study author John D. Kriesel tells the Huffington Post that if the new findings are validated in a larger population, discovery of new treatment for cold sores won't remain a dream.