Effects of DNA immunization formulated with bupivacaine in murine and guinea pig models of genital herpes simplex virus infection

The immunogenicity and efficacy of a herpes simplex virus type 2 glycoprotein D (gD(2)) DNA vaccine formulated with bupivacaine was evaluated using murine and guinea pig models of genital herpes. Animals received three doses of 100 mu g of gD(2) plasmid or control plasmid intramuscularly prior to intravaginal challenge with HSV-2. immunization induced HSV ELISA and neutralizing antibody in serum and ELISA antibody in the vaginal secretions of all animals evaluated. Following intravaginal HSV-2 challenge, vaginal viral replication was reduced in both models with peak reductions of greater than 99%. Immunization also decreased the number of animals developing any clinical disease (p < 0.001) and the severity of the acute disease (total lesion score 6.4 versus 0.6 in guinea pigs, p < 0.001). Further recurrent lesion days were reduced from 14.5 to 4.9 days in immunized guinea pigs (p < 0.001). DNA immunization with gD(2)+ bupivacaine was effective in reducing clinical disease and viral replication in both guinea pigs and mice. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.