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Pediatrics and herpes simplex virus vaccines.
Richard Rupp1, Susan L Rosenthal, Lawrence R Stanberry
1Department of Pediatrics and Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1119, USA. rrupp@utmb.edu
Seminars in Pediatric Infectious Diseases
|February 3, 2005
Summary
A new prophylactic genital herpes vaccine shows promise, being 73% effective in preventing disease in women. Further research and acceptance are key for its impact on herpes simplex virus transmission.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections pose significant public health challenges, including perinatal and oral-facial disease.
- Current prophylactic strategies for HSV are limited, necessitating the development of effective vaccines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the development of prophylactic genital herpes vaccines.
- To assess the potential impact of these vaccines on genital, perinatal, and oral-facial herpes simplex virus disease.
Main Methods:
- Review of various vaccine strategies including whole killed virus, viral subunits, attenuated live virus, viral vectors, and DNA vaccines.
- Analysis of efficacy data for different vaccine candidates, particularly recombinant subunit vaccines.
Main Results:
- The most efficacious vaccine identified is a recombinant subunit vaccine (truncated HSV-2 gD with alum/MPL), showing 73-74% effectiveness in preventing genital herpes in seronegative women.
- This vaccine is not effective in men or seropositive women.
- Models predict significant reductions in genital herpes, perinatal disease, and oral-facial disease if the vaccine limits viral shedding.
Conclusions:
- Prophylactic genital herpes vaccines have the potential to significantly reduce disease burden.
- The effectiveness of future herpes simplex virus vaccines will depend on acceptance by healthcare organizations, professionals, and the public.
- Further research is crucial to enhance vaccine efficacy and fully understand the implications of prophylactic herpes simplex vaccines.