Intranasal immunization with recombinant gD2 reduces disease severity and mortality following genital challenge with herpes simplex virus type 2 in guinea pigs.

The ability of a genetically detoxified mutant of heat labile enterotoxin (LTK63) to act as a mucosal adjuvant following intranasal immunization with recombinant gD2 has previously been reported in mice [Ugozzoli M, O'Hagan DT, Ott GS. Intranasal immunization of mice with herpes simplex virus type 2 recombinant gD2: the effect of adjuvants on mucosal and serum antibody responses. Immunol 1998;93:563-571.]. In the current studies, these observations were extended to the guinea pig model. Immunized guinea pigs were subsequently challenged intravaginally with HSV-2. Intranasal immunization with gD2 and LTK63 induced a significant reduction in disease severity and a reduction in mortality. However, only intramuscular immunization with a potent adjuvant (MF59) induced protection against the incidence of disease.