Systemic and mucosal cell mediated immune responses against herpes simplex virus in vaccinated guinea-pigs detected by lymphocyte proliferation and monoclonal antibodies against macrophages and T cells

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from guinea-pigs immunized with a herpes simplex virus (HSV) sub-unit vaccine (Skinner vaccine) were shown to produce an HSV antigen-specific lymphocyte proliferative response post vaccination. This response was associated with a reduction, compared with mock vaccinated and unvaccinated animals, in the clinical disease scores post intravaginal challenge. This reduction was not associated with the presence of macrophage or T cell infiltration in the vaginal mucosa postchallenge. In contrast mock vaccinated and unvaccinated guinea-pigs did not produce an HSV antigen-specific response post-vaccination but did demonstrate HSV antigen-specific lymphocyte proliferative responses post intra-vaginal challenge. The mock and unvaccinated animals had higher clinical disease scores postchallenge compared with sub-unit vaccinated animals and this was associated with the presence of cellular infiltrates in the vaginal mucosa. These results are discussed in relation to the immunopathology of the disease.