Altogether, these findings suggest that similar to HSV-1 infected SYMP humans: (i) HSV-specific CD8+ T cells in infected cornea and TG of mice show elevated expression of LAG-3 and PD-1 exhaustion markers; and (ii) a conspicuous involvement of the LAG-3 and PD-1 pathways in mediating CD8+ T cell exhaustion during the latent phase of symptomatic herpes infection. The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is Herpesviridae infectious disease.