title: Nucleic acid vaccine encoding gD2 protects mice from herpes simplex virus type 2 disease.
abstract: Nucleic acid vaccinations with plasmids pWW65, containing the sequence for herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2) gD2, and pRSVnt, lacking the gD sequence, were studied. Groups of mice were immunized with pWW65 alone, pWW65 plus 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin-D3 (D3), or pRSVnt. Clinical disease (vaginitis), serum and vaginal washing antibody levels, and vaginal washing virus titers were measured intravaginal HSV-2 challenge. No animals (0/10) in the pWW65 + D3 group, 6/10 animals in the pWW65 group, and 10/10 animals in the pRSVnt group developed severe disease by postchallenge day 13 (P<.001, P=.04 vs. pRSVnt). Virus titers in vaginal washings were significantly reduced in the pWW65 and pWW65+D3 groups versus the pRSVnt group (P<.001). Increasing levels of serum anti-gD2 antibodies were measured 2 and 6 days after challenge among animals in the pWW65 and pWW65+D3 groups but not among animals in the pRSVnt group. Vaccinations with a plasmid containing the gD2 gene are immunogenic and provide some protection from HSV-2-induced disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine; Salt Lake City, 84132, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kriesel
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Spruance
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Daynes
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Araneo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014627:Vaginitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014765:Viral Vaccines