Abstract
We have previously shown that herpes simplex virus (HSV) glycoprotein vaccines administered prior to viral challenge protect animals from initial herpetic disease as well as reduce the incidence of subsequent recurrent infections. We hypothesized that control of recurrent genital herpes in animals with established latent HSV infection might be achieved through the administration of HSV glycoprotein vaccines after recovery from initial infection. In an initial experiment Hartley guinea pigs were intravaginally inoculated with 5.7 log 10 pfu HSV-2 MS strain and treated with acyclovir in drinking water for 10 days. Half the animals were treated on days 18 and 40 with hind footpad administration of a lentil lectin purified mixture of HSV-2 glycoproteins (gP-2) derived from infected Vero cells. The treated animals had significantly fewer (p <.05) and less severe (p <.001) episodes of recurrent disease then the unimmunized controls. In a second experiment, animals were immunized on days 21 and 42 with either gP-2 or a mixture of genetically engineered HSV-1 glycoprotein B and D. The recombinant vaccine was as effective as gP-2 when compared to unimmunized or sham inoculated controls. Vaccine treated animals experienced fewer (p<.05) and less severe (p<.001) recurrences.
A possible new strategy for the control of recurrent HSV infection would be the use of HSV glycoproteins as immunotherapeutic agents.
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Stanberry, L., Burke, R. & Myers, M. HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS GLYCOPROTEINS AS TREATMENT FOR RECURRENT GENITAL HERPETIC INFECTION. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 335 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-01006
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-01006