A GENETICALLY INACTIVATED HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE-2 (HSV-2) VACCINEPROVIDES EFFECTIVE PROTECTION AGAINST PRIMARY AND RECURRENT HSV-2 DISEASE

A glycoprotein H (gH)-deleted herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) was evaluated as a vaccine for the prevention of HSV-induced disease. This virus, which we term a DISC (disabled infectious single cycle) virus, can only complete one replication cycle in normal cells and should th us be safe yet still able to stimulate broad humoral and cell-mediated antiviral immune responses. A gH-deleted HSV-2 virus that has been te sted as a vaccine in the guinea pig model of recurrent HSV-2 infection was constructed. Animals vaccinated with DISC HSV-2 showed complete p rotection against primary HSV-2-induced disease, even when challenged 6 months after vaccination. In addition, the animals were almost compl etely protected against recurrent disease. Even at low vaccination dos es, there was a high degree of protection against primary disease. A r eduction in recurrent disease symptoms was also observed following the rapeutic vaccination of animals already infected with wild type HSV-2.