title: Experimental keratitis in rabbits by human HSV-1 variants: prevention and treatment.
abstract: The efficacy of different therapies and vaccine preparations was assessed for treating or preventing herpetic ocular keratitis induced by experimental inoculation in rabbits with two HSV-1 variants that display different pathogenetic potential. Early administration of acyclovir (ACV) promoted fast healing and prevented neurologic involvements: alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN) was less efficient than ACV; combined therapy with both drugs increased the antiviral effects. In an attempt to prevent the disease, rabbits were vaccinated with a slightly pathogenic HSV-1 variant or with a secreted form of an engineered HSV-1 glycoprotein gB (gB-1s) and were subsequently challenged with a highly pathogenic HSV-1 variant. Immunization of rabbits with gB-1s was much more efficient than immunization with live virus in reducing the severity of herpetic keratitis and in preventing CNS disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, University of Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manservigi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Incorvaia
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Luca
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rotola
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Balboni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sebastiani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cassai
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007635:Keratitis, Dendritic / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D011817:Rabbits; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines; C040495:glycoprotein B, Simplexvirus; D000212:Acyclovir