Passive immunization of the vagina protects mice against vaginal transmission of genital herpes infections.
Vaginal application of human herpes simplex virus (HSV) antiserum, complement-inactivated antiserum, or IgG purified from antiserum protected mice (P < .001, P < .001, and P < .01, respectively) from visible signs of genital HSV-2 infection after subsequent vaginal inoculation with HSV-2 (10 ID50). Vaginal application of an anti-HSV-2 monoclonal antibody (MAb III-174) also protected mice against infection. This MAb, a neutralizing mouse IgG2A against glycoprotein D, prevented infection as determined by viral shedding from the vagina (P < .05), blocked 50% of visible signs of genital herpes infection at a vaginal dose of approximately 10 ng, and blocked 100% of visible signs of infection at a vaginal dose of 1 microgram (P < .001). These results suggest that vaginal applications of anti-HSV antibodies may help prevent sexual transmission of genital herpes infection.
Whaley
K J
KJ
Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218.
Zeitlin
L
L
Barratt
R A
RA
Hoen
T E
TE
Cone
R A
RA
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D014621:Vagina / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C040570:glycoprotein D-herpes simplex virus type 2