INDUCTION OF MUCOSAL IMMUNITY AGAINST HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE-1 IN THE MOUSE PROTECTS AGAINST OCULAR INFECTION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF LATENCY

Immune responses were assessed after intranasal immunization of mice w ith a mixture of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) glycoproteins wit h cholera toxin and its B subunit as adjuvant. Antigen-specific serum antibodies, which were largely IgG with IgG1 the major subclass, neutr alized virus in vitro with a titer equivalent to that elicited by acti ve infection. Significant levels of antigen-specific IgA were found in mucosal fluids of the eye as well as the vagina. Lymphocytes from dra ining lymph nodes showed secondary proliferative responses when cultur ed with HSV-1 in vitro, in immunized mice only, with the production of interleukin-2, interferon-gamma, interleukin-4, and interleukin-5. Af ter ocular challenge, immunized mice were protected against the develo pment of severe eye disease, zosteriform spread, or encephalitis, wher eas the incidence of clinical symptoms in mock-immunized mice was 83%, 74%, and 52%, respectively. Finally, the incidence of latency was red uced from 88% to 13% after intranasal immunization.