Researchers discover vaccine to treat herpes
Researchers have discovered a new vaccine which is proving to be effective
in combating herpes virus.
In the study, researchers delivered the Penn-developed vaccine to 64 mice
and then exposed them to genital herpes. After 28 days, 63 of the mice were
found to have sterilising immunity, meaning there was no trace of herpes
infection or disease after the exposure.
Similarly, 10 guinea pigs, which have responses to herpes infections that
more closely resemble that of humans, were also given the vaccine and exposed
to the virus.
No animal developed genital lesions and only two showed any evidence that
they became infected, but the infection was not in a form that animals could
transmit the virus, reported the study published in the journal, 'Science
Immunology'.
"We're extremely encouraged by the substantial immunising effect our
vaccine had in these animal models," said the study's principal
investigator Harvey Friedman, MD, a professor of Infectious Diseases.
"Based on these results, it is our hope that this vaccine could be
translated into human studies to test both the safety and efficacy of our
approach," added Friedman.
Building on the approaches of much cutting-edge cancer and immunotherapy
researchers, the Penn team filled their vaccine with specific messenger RNA
(mRNA), which can create proteins necessary for a strong immune response.
This vaccine stimulates three types of antibodies: one that blocks the
herpes virus from entering cells, and two others that ensure the virus doesn't
"turn off" innate immune system protective functions.
This approach differs from other herpes vaccines, which often only rely on
blocking the virus's entry as the mode to attack the virus.
Genital herpes also called Herpes simplex virus type 2 or HSV-2 is the most
common sexually-transmitted disease. Approximately 14 per cent of Americans
ages 14 to 59, and 11 per cent of people in the same age range across the world
are infected. HSV-2 may lead to painful sores, which can spread to other areas
of the body.
The virus increases one's risk of contracting HIV and infected pregnant
women may pass herpes onto their fetus, or more commonly, to their baby during
delivery.
"Along with physical symptoms, HSV-2 takes an emotional toll,"
said Friedman. "People worry over the transmission of the disease, and it
can certainly have a negative effect on intimate relationships."