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Recurrent Herpetic Stromal Keratitis in Mice, a Model for Studying Human HSK
Published on: December 18, 2012
Immunization with a replication-defective herpes simplex virus 2 mutant reduces herpes simplex virus 1 infection and
Allison L van Lint1, Ernesto Torres-Lopez, David M Knipe
1Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Abstract:
Ocular infections with herpes simplex virus 1 can lead to corneal scarring and blindness, with herpes keratitis being the major infectious cause of blindness. There is currently no clinically approved vaccine and nearly all developmental vaccines are targeted against HSV-2 and genital herpes. We tested the ability of an HSV-2 replication-defective virus, a genital herpes vaccine candidate, to protect against HSV-1 corneal infection. Immunization with HSV-2 dl5-29 reduced viral replication in the cornea, prevented ocular disease and reduced latent infection by the HSV-1 strain. Therefore, this HSV-2 replication-defective mutant strain may have applications for prevention of herpes keratitis and genital herpes due to HSV-1 infection.
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