DNA immunization confers protective immunity on mice challenged intravaginally with herpes simplex virus type 2

Nigel Bourne, Gregg N. Milligan, Mark R. Schleiss, David I. Bernstein, Lawrence R. Stanberry

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

87 Scopus citations

Abstract

The immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a nucleic acid vaccine encoding the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein D (gD) gene under the control of the CMV immediate early gene promoter was examined. Mice immunized three times by intramuscular injection with the vaccine developed an HSV specific IgG but not IgA antibody response detectable in both serum and vaginal secretions, In addition, antigen-specific cellular immune responses were detected in splenic lymphocytes isolated from DNA immunized animals. Immunization reduced virus replication in the genital tract following a lethal intravaginal HSV-2 challenge. Furthermore, symptomatic genital HSV disease was reduced in immunized mice and the animals were completely protected from death. We conclude that a nucleic acid vaccine expressing HSV-1 gD induced both humoral and cell mediated immune responses in mice which proved highly protective against disease following virus challenge.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1230-1234
Number of pages5
JournalVaccine
Volume14
Issue number13
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1996
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • DNA vaccine
  • Genital herpes
  • Herpes simplex virus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • General Immunology and Microbiology
  • General Veterinary
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases

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