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Vaccine antibodies correlated with protection against HSV-1
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Antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 2 glycoprotein D correlated with protection against herpes simplex virus type 1, researchers reported in The Journal of Infectious Diseases.
In a previous randomized, double blind, controlled trial (Herpevac Trial for Women), a vaccine containing the HSV-2 glycoprotein D was 82% protective against HSV-1 genital disease, but not HSV-2 genital disease among a group of women who were seronegative for both HSV-1 and HSV-2. With this follow-up study, Robert Belshe, MD, professor at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, and colleagues aimed to better understand those results.
Robert Belshe
“We looked at what mechanism of the immune system correlates with protection against infection with herpes virus,” Belshe told Infectious Disease News. “We found that antibodies directed against the virus protect us against herpes. It’s a sea change in our view of how to prevent herpes. These findings point us in a new direction in terms of what to look for in a vaccine.”
The researchers also analyzed correlations between cellular immune responses and the incidence of HSV infection among women who received the vaccine and were infected, as well as matched uninfected controls. The analysis included data from enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing that was performed after the randomized trial was complete and from cell-mediated immunity testing performed while the trial was ongoing.
HSV-2 glycoprotein D antibody concentrations correlated with protection from HSV-1 but not HSV-2, according to results from the ELISA testing. Higher antibody concentrations were associated with higher efficacy. There was no correlation between HSV-2 glycoprotein D antibody titers and HSV-2 infection or disease. Cell-mediated immunity to HSV-2 glycoprotein D did not correlate with protection against HSV-1 or HSV-2. There was a weak relationship between antibody response and cell-mediated immunity response.
“Once people are infected with herpes, we need the cellular response to control the infection and limit the spread of the virus,” Belshe said. “But antibodies are the key to preventing an infection. While HSV-1 and HSV-2 are clinically indistinguishable, both are important causes of genital disease. In order to address this important public health problem, we need a vaccine that protects against disease caused by both viruses.”
Belshe said although the development of this particular vaccine will not be pursued, an effective vaccine against HSV uses antibodies to protect against herpes. Therefore, it is important to understand the mechanism of how antibodies work in inhibiting the virus. Current studies are underway to characterize the nature of the antibodies.
Robert Belshe, MD, can be reached at belsherb@slu.edu.
Disclosure: Belshe reports no relevant financial disclosures.
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