INDUCTION OF A PROTECTIVE IMMUNE-RESPONSE BY MUCOSAL VACCINATION WITHA DISC HSV-1 VACCINE

The vaccine potential of a genetically disabled Herpes Simplex Virus T ype 1 virus (DISC HSV-1) was investigated in the guinea pig model of i ntravaginal (i.vag.) HSV-2 infection. Three mucosal vaccination routes , i.vag., intranasal (in.) and oral, were compared for their ability t o protect guinea pigs from challenge with wild-type HSV-2. Each was ef fective, particularly the i.n. route, which almost completely abolishe d primary disease. This was accompanied by significantly lower challen ge virus titres in vaginal swabs collected from the vaccinated animals . In all cases, vaccination with the inactivated virus preparation pro vided substantially less protection from disease than the live DISC HS V-I by the equivalent route. Antibody levels in serum and vaginal wash es were measured both after vaccination and challenge by ELISA and neu tralization tests. The highest titres were observed following administ ration of the DISC HSV-1 vaccine by the i.n. route. Significant increa ses in IgA and IgG in vaginal wash fluids were also found in these vac cinated animals. Crown Copyright (C) 1996 Published by Elsevier Scienc e Ltd.