Local and systemic inoculation of DNA or protein gB1s-based vaccines induce a protective immunity against rabbit ocular HSV-1 infection

A secreted form of gB1 (gB1s), previously shown to protect rabbits against HSV-1 ocular infection when inoculated systemically, was delivered to rabbi t periocular area to evaluate its vaccine efficacy upon local administratio n. The efficacy of local or systemic inoculation of a gB1s-DNA-based vaccin e in the rabbit model of ocular HSV-1 infection was assessed in parallel fl ow. Rabbits received four inoculations of the different immunogens, then im mune responses and clinical symptoms were evaluated. Both the local protein and the systemic DNA administration elicited a neutralizing antibody respo nse, reduced ocular symptoms with respect to controls (P < 0.01), and compl etely prevented the death of rabbits from encephalitis. Conversely, local D NA vaccination did not induce any detectable antibody response, and could o nly partially protect rabbits from the development of encephalitis and seve re ocular infection. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.