engleski

Immunopathogenesis of Recurrent Genital Herpes Infection and the Development of a Vaccine

Genital herpes, caused by infection with Herpes simplex virus (HSV) 2 or 1, is a important sexually transmitted disease associated with neoplasia, and is a co-factor in HIV transmission. After infection of the mucosa or skin, Herpes simplex virus type 2 or 1, is transmitted retrogradely to the neurons of dorsal root ganglia where it replicates and establishes latency. Upon appropriate stimulus, the virus is transported back to reinfect skin or mucosa in the episode of recurrent herpes. In an immunocompetent host, recurrent HSV is a self-limiting disease where cytotoxic T lymphocytes and to a weaker extent neutralizing antibodies, resolve lesion with time. The danger for horizontal spread is in prevalent asymptomatic lesions of skin/mucosa. The search for genital herpes vaccine is few decades long. The only partially successful vaccine by now, developed by GlaxoSmithKline, showed clear gender bias, being effective only in women negative for Herpes simplex type 1 and 2. It also showed the importance of previous infection with HSV-1 in prevention of HSV-2 infection. Here we discuss the immunopathogenesis of recurrent human herpes infection, history of genital vaccine development and our data concerning the development of therapeutic and prophylactic vaccine against genital herpes.

Herpes simplex virus; genital herpes vaccine; immunopathogenesis; CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes

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