Abstract
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes devastating infections in newborns. Maternal immunization is one potential strategy to reduce neonatal HSV disease. Female mice were immunized with an HSV type 2 (HSV-2) replication-defective mutant (HSV-2 dl5-29, which is defective for the genes UL5 and UL29) and then mated. Protection was evaluated in newborn mice after a virulent HSV-2 oral challenge. Heightened neonatal susceptibility was observed to a thymidine kinase-negative HSV-2 strain (HSV-2 186DeltaKpn) that is highly attenuated in adult mice. Maternal immunization with HSV-2 dl5-29 and HSV-2 186DeltaKpn reduced visceral spread of infectious challenge virus in pups after challenge at either 1 day or 1 week of age but did not prevent replication at the site of entry, spread to the central nervous system, or lethal encephalitis. No protection was seen in pups born to mock-immunized mothers or to mothers immunized with a UV-inactivated wild-type HSV-2 strain. Levels of protection correlated with levels of passively transferred maternal HSV-2-specific IgG antibody.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
