EFFECTS OF THE PASSIVE TRANSFER OF ANTI-GB ANTIBODIES IN A RABBIT MODEL OF HSV-1-INDUCED KERATITIS

The effectiveness of passively transferred antibodies directed against the secretory form of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotei n B (gB1-s) was tested in a rabbit model of ocular HSV-1 infection. Th e animals were passively immunized through the intramuscular injection of a homologous polyclonal anti-gB1-s antiserum at different times fr om the viral ocular challenge (i.e at -24. 0, +24 and +48 h from infec tion). The effects observed in this trial were compared with those obt ained in an active immunization trial. in which the animals were vacci nated with gB1-s before the ocular infection with HSV-1 (large variant ). The results have shown that passive immunization appears quite effe ctive in prophylactic utilization, whereas it is less effective when p erformed at 24 or 48 h after inoculation. By contrast, active immuniza tion of rabbits proved to be highly effective both in preventing the d evelopment of fatal encephalitis and in reducing the severity of corne al lesions.