Vaccines and New Antiviral Strategies Against Herpes Simplex Virus
Timothy E. Dudek and David M. Knipe
from: Alphaherpesviruses: Molecular Virology (Edited by: Sandra K. Weller). Caister Academic Press, U.K. (2011)
Abstract
Vaccines have been among the most effective public health approaches for protecting individuals against viral disease, with two of the world's most successful vaccines being against smallpox virus and poliovirus. Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is a nearly ubiquitous pathogen, and the worldwide prevalence of herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) continues to increase. These two pathogens cause significant morbidity and mortality among the general population, but in particular in neonates and immunocompromised individuals. Perhaps most significantly, there is a 3-4 fold increased risk of HIV acquisition in HSV-2 infected individuals. To date, attempts at producing a vaccine against HSV have not been successful, but each attempt has brought insights into what may be required for an effective vaccine. Furthermore, intense studies into the immunology of HSV infection and the resources that have been put into vaccine design and development have recently yielded knowledge that will be necessary to achieve the goal of a highly effective vaccine against HSV. Here we will discuss several vaccine constructs that have contributed to the advancement of the HSV vaccine field and some of the new antiviral strategies to counter HSV read more ...