PROTECTIVE VACCINATION AGAINST PRIMARY AND RECURRENT DISEASE CAUSED BY HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS (HSV) TYPE-2 USING A GENETICALLY DISABLED HSV-1

The vaccine potential of a mutant herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1, w ith a deletion in the glycoprotein H (gH) gene, was evaluated. The vir us requires a gH-expressing cell line for multi-cycle growth but can c omplete a single cycle of infection in noncomplementing cells. Such vi ruses, termed DISC (disabled infectious single cycle) viruses, should be safe, yet still able to stimulate humoral and cell-mediated respons es against a broad range of virus antigens in vaccinated hosts. Prophy lactic vaccination of guinea pigs with DISC HSV-1, by ear scarificatio n or direct infection of the vaginal mucosa, afforded a high degree of protection against HSV-2-induced primary genital disease and reduced significantly the frequency of subsequent disease recurrence. There wa s also a trend toward reduced recurrence following therapeutic vaccina tion of animals already infected with HSV-2. DISC HSV vaccination, the refore, offers an effective route for control of HSV disease.