Antibody response to herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D: effects of acyclovir and relation to recurrence.

We developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for measuring the antibody response to herpes simplex virus (HSV) glycoprotein D (gD). The ELISA was specific and more sensitive than immunoblotting techniques. Antibody to HSV gD was detected in 10 of 12 sera (geometric mean titer, 36.3) obtained from HSV-2-infected guinea pigs 14 days after intravaginal inoculation, and the titer increased to greater than or equal to 5,120 on day 60. Therapy with acyclovir delayed and diminished the antibody response to gD, although by day 60 the titers of antibody to gD in acyclovir-treated animals were not significantly different from those in controls. An increased titer of antibody to gD seemed to be associated with a reduced number of recurrent episodes and to a reduced number of days with recurrent lesions.