title: Mucosal and systemic antiviral antibodies in mice inoculated intravaginally with herpes simplex virus type 2.
abstract: Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) causes lethal illness after intravaginal (IVAG) inoculation into BALB/cJ mice. In the present studies, we demonstrated in mice that primary IVAG vaccination with an attenuated strain of HSV-2 induced humoral immunity in sera and in vaginal secretions. Secondary genital exposure to HSV-2 enhanced this response. However, intraperitoneal exposure to attenuated HSV-2 elicited an antiviral antibody response in sera but not in vaginal secretions. In both sera and vaginal secretions, antiviral IgG antibodies were the major isotype. Systemic exposure to HSV-2 elicited antibodies only in sera that were specific for the major viral antigens whereas IVAG inoculation with HSV-2 stimulated both serum and vaginal antibody responses. Intravenous transfer of antiviral monoclonal antibodies protected against systemic HSV-2 infection but were ineffective against vaginal infection due to a lack of transudation into vaginal secretions. These results suggested that local humoral immunity in the genital tract is important in resistance to HSV-2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Brais
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Evelegh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D007136:Immunoglobulins