Work

Trivalent Glycoprotein Subunit Vaccine Prevents Neonatal Herpes Simplex Virus Mortality and Morbidity

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Herpes simplex virus is among the most serious infections of newborns. Current antiviral therapies can prevent mortality if infection is recognized early and treated promptly. Most children who survive nHSV develop lifelong neurological and behavioral deficits, despite aggressive antiviral treatment. We propose that maternal immunization could provide protection against HSV for both mother and baby. To this end, we used a trivalent glycoprotein vaccine candidate to demonstrate that offspring are protected from nHSV following maternal immunization. Significantly, this approach protected offspring from long-term behavioral morbidity. Our results emphasize the importance of providing protective immunity to neonates during this window of vulnerability.

Source: Journal of Virology

DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02163-19

Authors: Chaya D. Patel, Sean A. Taylor, Jesse Mehrbach, Sita Awasthi, Harvey M. Friedman, David A. Leib

Institutions: Dartmouth College, University of Pennsylvania

Language: English

Topic: Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Eye Institute, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases