Herpes Vaccine Shows Promise in Mice

When unvaccinated mice were challenged with wildtype HSV-2, all showed evidence of the virus in the 3 tissue sites, and all succumbed to the disease. The vaccinated mice, however, showed low levels of neutralizing antibodies but high levels of antibodies associated with a different immune response called antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Initial tests suggest that the vaccine is also effective against HSV-1, or oral herpes, although this needs to be further evaluated. In addition, the authors say, the vaccine’s novel design may help in creating vaccines against other disease-causing microbes that invade the body through mucosal tissues, including HIV and the bacterium that causes tuberculosis. “Genital herpes infections can not only be serious in and of themselves, but they also play a major role in fueling the HIV epidemic,” said Dr. Herold. http://www.idse.net/ViewArticle.aspx?d=HIV-AIDS%2B%2F%2BSTIs&d_id=214&i=March+2015&i_id=1161&a_id=30769&tab=MostEmailed