title: HSV-2 vaccine: current state and insights into development of a vaccine that targets genital mucosal protection.
abstract: HSV-2 is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections that result in significant morbidity and financial burden on health systems around the world. Recurrent and asymptomatic re-activation accompanied by viral shedding is common among sero-positive individuals, leading to relatively high efficiency of transmission. Prophylactic HSV-2 vaccines are the best and cheapest option to address the problems associated with HSV-2 infections globally. However, despite persistent efforts, the search for an efficacious vaccine for HSV-2 remains elusive. In this review, the current state of HSV-2 vaccines and the outcome of past human trials are examined. Furthermore, we discuss the evidence and strategies from experimental mouse models that have been successful in inducing protective immunity in the genital tract against HSV-2, following immunization. Future vaccination strategies that focus on induction of robust mucosal immunity in the genital tract may hold the key for a successful vaccine against HSV-2.
authors.affiliation: McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Michael G. DeGroote Center for Learning and Discovery, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Kristy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Victor H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Charu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kaushic
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000266:history; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000276:immunology*; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D022283:Herpesvirus Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D022283:Herpesvirus Vaccines