title: The prophylactic effect of immunization with DNA encoding herpes simplex virus glycoproteins on HSV-induced disease in guinea pigs.
abstract: Plasmid expression vectors encoding herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) glycoproteins B (gB) or D (gD) were constructed and tested for their ability to immunize guinea pigs against genital HSV infection. Immunization with a plasmid expressing the aminoterminal 707 amino acids (aa) of gB induced humoral immune responses detected by ELISA and virus neutralization. When challenged by vaginal infection, immunized animals were partially protected from genital herpes, exhibiting significantly reduced primary and subsequent recurrent disease. When the gB plasmid was combined with a plasmid expressing full-length gD, immunized guinea pigs developed humoral responses to both proteins and were also significantly protected from viral challenge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virus and Cell Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, PA 19486, USA.
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: McClements
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Keys
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D010957:Plasmids; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines; C044525:glycoprotein B, herpes simplex virus type 2; C040570:glycoprotein D-herpes simplex virus type 2