Immune response to a DNA free herpes simplex vaccine in man

A DNA-free subunit herpes simplex virus (HSV) vaccine was administered to 15 volunteers without past evidence of HSV infection and to 25 patients with severe recurrent HSV infection. The immune response to the vaccine in these patients was compared to the immunological status of 20 non-vaccinated control patients with recurrent HSV infection. The vaccine elicited antibody and cell-mediated immunity (CMI) in the 15 subjects without past evidence of HSV infection and this response was similar to that observed after a natural infection. Among the 25 patients who were suffering from recurrent HSV infection the vaccine elicited complement dependent cytotoxic antibodies in 13 of these patients who did not possess these antibodies and increased significantly the titers of these antibodies in the 12 other patients. The vaccine gave a significant increase of the titers of the other specific antibodies as well as the level of cell-mediated immunity. The increase of the immunity level in these latter patient was not due to normal variations since in the non-vaccinated control group the antibody titers and CMI remained stable during the same period of time.