Abstract: Objective To observe the prophylactic effects of a HSV-2 gD2 DNA vaccine in guinea pigs challenged with HSV-2 strains.Methods Female guinea pigs were divided into 3 groups with 10 each,which was immunized intramuscularly with 100μg of pc-gD plasmids(recombinant HSV-2 DNA vaccine),or with pc DNA 3 blank plasmids,with normal saline as control,respectively.Two booster injections were given on day 7 and day 21.Sera were collected for virus neutralization test on day 0,day 28,and day 56.The animals were challenged with HSV-2 strain sav intravaginally,and lesions induced on the external genital skin were scored between day1and day 21 after challenge.Results The titer of neutralizing antibody to HSV-2 was much higher in the sera from animals immunized by pc-gD plasmids than that from animals immunized by pc DNA 3 blank plasmids or normal saline.Furthermore,the lesion scores on external genital skin were significantly decreased in pc-gD group than those in other two groups with either primary or recurrent infections.Conclusion The constructed gD 2 vaccine can efficiently protect guinea pigs from genital infection and reduce recurrent infection induced by latent herpes simplex virus.

Key words: Vaccines,DNA, Herpesvirus2,human, Animal testing alternatives