The efficacy of HSV-2 vaccines based on gD and gB is enhanced by the addition of ICP27.

DNA vaccines expressing HSV-2 gD, gB, ICP27, VP22 and VP13/14 were shown to be immunogenic in mice; gD and gB elicited neutralising antibody, and all five antigens induced T cell responses measured by IFNγ ELISPOT. In murine HSV-2 challenge studies, gD and gB provided moderate to high levels of protection while ICP27 provided a lower level of protection depending on the model (intravaginal or intranasal) and the challenge dose. Combining vaccines expressing gB or gD with vaccines expressing ICP27 provided greater protection than any antigen alone. We conclude that the addition of ICP27 to enhance the anti-viral T cell response can improve the efficacy of gD- and gB-based vaccines.