Effect of imiquimod as an adjuvant for immunotherapy of genital HSV in guinea-pigs.
Imiquimod, an immunomodulator which upregulates cell-mediated immune responses, was evaluated as an adjuvant for immunotherapy of recurrent genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in guinea-pigs. In two experiments at separate research centres, animals were immunized with HSV glycoprotein and either placebo, 1 or 5 days of imiquimod, or complete Freund's adjuvant, 14 and 35 days after genital HSV-2 infection. Recurrent lesion days were then evaluated from days 15-91. In both experiments, immunization with glycoprotein and imiquimod most effectively reduced recurrence compared with unimmunized controls (53-69%, p < 0.001-0.05). A peak reduction of 70-80% was observed following the second immunization. This reduction was greater than that provided by immunization with glycoprotein and complete Freund's adjuvant in these experiments or those previously reported.
Bernstein
D I
DI
J.N. Gamble Institute of Medical Research, Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA.
Harrison
C J
CJ
Tepe
E R
ER
Shahwan
A
A
Miller
R L
RL
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000628:therapy*; D000077271:Imiquimod; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011897:Random Allocation; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000634:Aminoquinolines; D006023:Glycoproteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D000077271:Imiquimod