人酪氨酸酶抗原表位肽的表达、纯化及生物学活性分析

目的 探讨人酪氨酸酶抗原表位肽在白癜风患者自身抗体检测中的表达.方法 目的基因克隆至原核表达载体pGEX-4T-2,转化大肠杆菌BL21菌株,异丙基-β-D-硫代半乳糖苷(IPTG)诱导蛋白表达,通过SDS-PAGE分析和蛋白质印迹鉴定目的蛋白表达,ELISA检测其生物学活性.结果 成功构建重组表达载体,SDS-PAGE和蛋白质印迹结果表明,重组蛋白成功表达.应用凝胶分析系统分析蛋白表达量发现,目的蛋白的表达量占菌体总蛋白的90%.融合蛋白经过试剂盒纯化后,其蛋白纯度达95%以上.ELISA检测纯化蛋白的生物学活性,结果表明,纯化蛋白具有结合白癜风患者IgG的能力.结论 成功表达了人酪氨酸酶抗原表位肽,其表达蛋白具有生物学活性.     

性病与HIV感染者中HSV2、HBsAg和HCV的检测

目的 比较性病患者和HIV感染者血清中单纯疱疹病毒(HSV)、乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)及丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)的感染情况,为采取综合性的防治方案提供参考依据。方法 对经蛋白印迹法确证的HIV(+)/AIDS库存血清标本和梅毒、淋病及衣原体感染患者血清标本,用ELISA方法同时检测HSV2-IgG、HSV2-IgM、HBsAg和HCV-IgG4项指标,并对2组标本的检测结果进行比较。结果 在76份性病样品中,检出HSV2-IgG24例占31.58%;HSV2-IgM1例占1.32%;HBsAg8例占10.53%和HCV1例占1.32%。在另外分组的14例HIV阳性标本中,检出HSV2-IgG7例占50.00%;HSV2-IgM5例占35.71%;HBsAg8例占57.14%和HCV3例占21.43%。在总共90份标本中,有6例标本同时检测到HSV和HBV;2例标本同时检出HSV-IgM和HBV;2例同时检出上述4项指标。统计分析发现,HIV(+)/AIDS组中HSV、HBV和HCV的检出率明显高于性病组(P<0.05)。结论 HIV(+)/AIDS患者中合并HSV、HBV及HCV的感染率明显高于其他性病患者。     

白癜风患者血清自身抗体IgG识别人黑素浓集素受体-1B细胞表位的研究

目的 寻找白癜风患者血清中抗体识别的人黑素浓集素受体-1(MCHR1)B细胞表位肽段。方法 从重组质粒pcDNA3/MCHR1中PCR扩增包含预测抗原表位MCHR1肽段的基因,构建重组表达载体pGEX-4T/MCHR1,经限制性内切酶双酶切及DNA测序鉴定,转化大肠杆菌DH5α,利用谷胱甘肽巯基转移酶(GST)纯化试剂盒纯化表达的融合蛋白。采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)鉴定所表达的蛋白是否具有白癜风患者血清识别的表位。结果 选择表达最可能包含B细胞表位的MCHR1氨基酸1~94(aa1~94),构建表达载体pGEX4T/MCHR1,得到纯化的重组蛋白GST-MCHR1相对分子质量为37000。ELISA法检测结果显示,13.2%的白癜风患者血清抗MCHR1自身抗体IgG呈阳性反应。结论 MCHR1aa1~94包含了白癜风患者自身抗体IgG识别的B细胞表位,为研究白癜风的发病机制奠定基础。     

生殖器疱疹患者病毒DNA的定量测定研究

目的 对生殖器疱疹病毒(HSV)患者病毒DNA进行定量测定.方法 以标准的HSV质粒作为标准,用聚合酶链反应(PCR)和酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA),定量测定HSVDNA.结果 100例生殖器疱疹患者中93例HSV测定阳性,7例阴性.在93例阳性者中有58例为HSV-2(占62.4%),35例为HSV-1(占37.6%).93例阳性者定量测定结果,250μL标本混悬液中DNA质粒数为115～1.1×10⁵个,平均7.1×10⁴个;58例HSV-2阳性者,250μL标本悬液DNA质粒数为136～1.1×10⁵个,平均7.6×10⁴个;35例HSV-1阳性者DNA质粒数为115～9.4×10⁴个,平均6.3×10⁴个.分别随机取HSV-2和HSV-1阳性患者各8例已淬取和纯化的DNA混悬液10μL,定量测定结果显示:HSV-2患者最高为2.7×10⁴个DNA质粒数,最低35个,平均1.8×10⁴个.HSV-1最高2.5×10⁴个,最低29个,平均1.6×10⁴个.结论 所用几种检测法中ELISA定量总阳性率为93%,与DNA印迹法阳性率相同.诊断PCR阳性率为91%,HSV分型PCR阳性率为88%.     

对一株基因工程人抗角蛋白抗体的免疫学鉴定

目的 对1株基因工程人抗角蛋白抗体识别抗原的特性进行鉴定。方法 利用从噬菌体抗体库中筛选到的特异表达抗角蛋白的Fab片段的质粒转化大肠杆菌,IPTG诱导表达出Fab片段,用ELISA鉴定抗原结合活性和特异性,用蛋白免疫印迹和竞争抑制性ELISA检测抗体所识别的角蛋白组分。结果 该株基因工程人抗角蛋白抗体的结合活性和特异性良好,所识别的抗原为相对分子质量46000角蛋白,为特异性人抗角蛋白K17抗体。结论 该抗体具有优良的免疫学特性,有必要对其生物学活性和临床应用前景做进一步探讨。     

梅毒与系统性红斑狼疮患者抗心磷脂抗体的比较研究

目的 对梅毒和系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)患者血清中抗心磷脂(ACL)抗体的反应强度以及类型进行比较研究。方法 应用ELISA法对99例梅毒和75例SLE患者的血清中ACL抗体的反应强度以及ACL抗体的IgG与IgM类型进行检测。结果 SLE和梅毒患者血清中IgG型ACL抗体阳性率分别为48.00%和40.40%;梅毒的阳性血清反应强度高于SLE患者(P<0.001);IgM型ACL抗体的阳性率在SLE和梅毒患者中分别为18.67%和61.62%,梅毒的ACL抗体阳性率显著高于SLE患者(P<0.001),且梅毒患者IgM型ACL抗体阳性血清反应强度高于SLE患者(P<0.005)。结论 这种ACL抗体IgG、IgM阳性率与反应强度的差异,反映了SLE患者和梅毒患者产生ACL抗体的机理与功能有所不同。     

白癜风相关黑素细胞膜抗原的检测及分析

目的 检测和分析白癜风相关的黑素细胞膜抗原,为纯化和克隆白癜风相关的黑素细胞膜抗原打下基础。方法 用活细胞ELISA法筛选白癜风血清,获得抗黑素细胞膜的强阳性IgG血清;体外培养正常人黑素细胞,裂解黑素细胞并作免疫印迹。共检测分析了30例强阳性白癜风血清。结果 免疫印迹显示,全部被筛选出的强阳性血清均有阳性条带,对照仅1例阳性(10%);抗体结合多种抗原成分,相对分子质量约为150000、90000、75000、50000、40000~45000。各个条带阳性率分别为70%、60%、83%、16%、23%。结论 白癜风患者血清中存在抗黑素细胞膜抗体,膜抗原相对分子质量主要为150000、90000、75000,以往发现的一些小分子抗原可能为大分子抗原的降解产物。     

生殖器部位皮损的单纯疱疹病毒检测及分型

目的 探讨生殖器疱疹部位皮损的不典型表现及其与单纯疱疹病毒型别的关系。方法 对外生殖器部位及其周围有硬结或疖肿、裂隙、毛囊炎等非水疱性皮肤黏膜损害的患者进行临床资料采集和分析,并对皮损标本进行单纯疱疹病毒的分离培养、PCR检测和病毒分型。结果 105例有外生殖器部位非水疱性皮损的患者入选本研究,在硬结(或疖肿)、裂隙、毛囊炎、类似擦破、单个溃疡、非特异性红斑和红肿渗液性包皮龟头炎皮损中,PCR检测HSV的阳性率分别33.3%(6/18)、20%(3/15)、37.5%(6/16)、28.6%(2/7)、33.3%(4/12)、20%(5/25)和50%(6/12),总的检出阳性率为30.5%(32/105)。分离培养法检测HSV的阳性率分别为22.2%(4/18)、13.3%(2/15)、25%(4/16)、14.3%(1/7)、33.3%(4/12)、8%(2/25)和41.7%(5/12),总的检出阳性率为21%(22/105)。两种方法检测HSV的总检出率差异无统计学意义(κ=0.095,P=0.114)。HSV-PCR分型结果与荧光单克隆抗体分型结果相符。在所有HSV阳性者中,HSV-1感染占9.4%(3/32),HSV-2感染占90.6%(29/32)。结论 生殖器HSV感染的皮肤黏膜损害多样,可为外生殖器部位的硬结(疖肿)、裂隙、毛囊炎、类似擦破、单个溃疡、非特异性红斑和红肿渗液性包皮龟头炎等不典型表现,而且主要由HSV-2感染引起。     

不同免疫佐剂对寻常型天疱疮抗原EC1-2表位抗体亚型的影响

目的 探讨免疫佐剂的十预对寻常型天疱疮抗原ECl-2表位抗体亚型转换的影响。方法 完全弗氏佐剂(CFA)或铝[Al(OH)₃]佐剂联合重组天疱疮抗原(PVA)ECl-2融合蛋白,分别免疫C57BL/6小鼠,检测免疫后细胞因子的产生及其特异性抗体的滴度和型别,并通过间接免疫荧光(IIF)及新生鼠皮肤的体外培养,观察抗血清同抗原的亲和力及其致病作用。结果 免疫后经细胞因子检测发现,CFA组小鼠IFN-γ、Th1型细胞因子增高;Al(OH)₃组则以IL-4、Th2型细胞因子增高为主。两组小鼠均有特异性的抗ECl-2 IgG型抗体产生,但其亚型不同,CFA组以IgG2a为主,而Al(OH)₃组则仅表达IgGl。CFA组小鼠血清IIF示弱的荧光沉积,体外实验示轻度棘层松解;而Al(OH)₃组则表现为明亮的荧光沉积,体外实验出现表皮内水疱。结论 不同免疫佐剂直接影响寻常型天疱疮抗原ECl-2表位的抗体亚型。     

脂质体包裹HSV-2gD-HSP70融合蛋白诱导小鼠免疫应答的研究

目的 探讨局部外用脂质体包裹单纯疱疹病毒2型(HSV-2)糖蛋白D(glycoprotein D,gD)与结核杆菌热休克蛋白(heat shock protein,HSP)70融合蛋白疫苗在小鼠体内诱导产生特异性免疫应答的情况。方法 局部外用脂质体包裹gD,gD+HSP70,HSP70-gD融合蛋白分别免疫BALB/c小鼠3周,末次免疫后第4周检测小鼠血清中gD IgG水平,同时分离小鼠脾淋巴细胞,并用HSV-2gD蛋白刺激,用MTT法检测小鼠脾淋巴细胞增殖情况及ELISA法检测脾淋巴细胞培养上清中γ-干扰素(INF-γ)、白细胞介素4(IL-4)水平。结果 脂质体包裹gD、gD+HSP70和HSP70-gD均可以诱导小鼠产生针对HSV-2gD蛋白的抗体并诱导脾淋巴细胞增殖及分泌IFN-γ和IL-4,脂质体包裹HSP70-gD组在血清抗体水平、脾淋巴细胞刺激指数及其分泌IFN-γ、IL-4水平方面均显著高于脂质体包裹gD+HSP70组和gD组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 HSP70可以促进gD蛋白诱导小鼠特异性免疫应答反应。     

Herpes serology for dermatologists

Serologic tests for antibodies to herpes simplex virus (HSV) have traditionally played a limited role in the treatment of patients with genital herpes. The epidemiological gold standard has been the Western blot analysis, which is only available in a few research centers and is expensive. The gold standard of diagnosis for HSV infection has been viral culture. Diagnosis by viral culture has severely underestimated the number of individuals infected. The majority of patients who are seropositive for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) by Western blot analysis are unaware of their symptoms (unrecognized infection) or have subclinical infection. These patients are unlikely to present for culture. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the serologic diagnosis of herpes has been available for many years but suffers from poor sensitivity and specificity. Reliable, convenient serologic tests for antibodies that distinguish between prior infection with HSV-1 and HSV-2 have recently become commercially available.     

荧光定量PCR和酶联免疫吸附试验检测生殖器疱疹病毒感染的意义

目的:探讨荧光定量聚合酶反应(fluorescent quantitative PCR,FQ-PCR)和酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测生殖器疱疹病毒感染的临床意义。方法:对性病门诊140例有现症生殖器疱疹(GH)患者用FQ-PCR检测生殖器疱疹病毒II型(HSV-2)和ELISA方法进行HSV-2抗原和抗体(包括IgG和IgM)检测。结果:FQ-PCR和HSV-2抗原法检测140例GH患者的阳性率分别为92.14%和89.29%,均明显高于HSV-2 IgG(66.43%)和IgM(14.29%)(P<0.01);125例具有典型临床症状如水疱、溃疡和宫颈糜烂等患者中:FQ-PCR和HSV-2抗原分别为100%和97.60%,均明显高于HSV-2IgG(65.60%)和HSV-2 IgM(14.40%)(P<0.01);15例表现为结痂的患者中:FQ-PCR、HSV-2抗原和HSV-2 IgM阳性率分别为26.67%、20.0%和13.33%,均明显低于HSV-2 IgG阳性率(P<0.01)。结论:FQ-PCR法和ELISA HSV-2抗原法均能快速准确检测GH感染;ELISA HSV-2 IgM抗体诊断GH感染的价值不大;ELISA HSV-2 IgG法对诊断临床症状不典型的GH有较大的价值。     

Time course of seroconversion by HerpeSelect ELISA after acquisition of genital herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or HSV-2

BACKGROUND: HerpeSelect HSV-1 and HSV-2 ELISAs are glycoprotein G-based, type-specific antibody detection tests that are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for diagnosis of genital herpes. GOAL: The goal was to determine seroconversion times by means of HerpeSelect ELISAs. STUDY DESIGN: Four-hundred thirteen sera from 113 patients with recently acquired genital herpes were tested by HerpeSelect ELISAs and Western blot (WB). Thirty-one patients had primary genital HSV-1 (group 1), 56 had primary HSV-2 (group 2), and 26 had prior HSV-1 antibodies and newly acquired HSV-2 (group 3). RESULTS: Median interval from onset of symptoms to seroconversion was 25 days, as determined by HerpeSelect HSV-1, versus 33 days by WB for group 1; 21 days by HerpeSelect HSV-2 versus 40 days by WB (group 2; P = 0.0005); and 23 days by HerpeSelect HSV-2 ELISA versus 47 days by WB (group 3; P = 0.02). In long-term follow-up, transient reversion to HerpeSelect negativity occurred in 3 of 31 HSV-1-infected subjects (10%) and in 2 of 82 HSV-2-infected subjects (2%). CONCLUSION: Seroconversion to HSV-2 was determined faster by HerpeSelect than by WB.     

Prevalence and risk factors for herpes simplex virus type 2 antibodies among low- and high-risk populations in Indonesia

OBJECTIVES/GOAL: Data on prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infections are limited in Asia. This study investigated the seroprevalence of, and risk factors for, antibodies to HSV-2 among low- and high-risk, predominantly asymptomatic populations in Indonesia. STUDY DESIGN: We screened women attending maternal and child health, obstetric, gynecology, and sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics; men attending STI clinics; and female sex workers (FSWs) for type-specific HSV-2 antibodies using the HerpesSelect 2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay IgG and Western blot. RESULTS: HSV-2 antibodies were detected in 153 of 176 FSWs (86.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 81.0-91.5); increasing age was the only significant independent risk factor (odds ratio [OR], 1.15; 95% CI, 1.06-1.24; P = 0.001). Among non-sex worker females, HSV-2 antibodies were detected in 78 of 418 (18.7%; 95% CI, 15.0-22.7); significant independent associations were any contraceptive use (OR, 2.24, 95% CI = 1.33-3.85, P = 0.003), symptoms or signs of genital ulcer (OR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.27-5.70; P = 0.01) and younger age of sexual debut (OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.86-0.99; P = 0.03). HSV-2 antibodies were detected in 25 of 116 men (21.6%; 95% CI, 14.5-30.1). CONCLUSIONS: HSV-2 seroprevalence reported here is in the upper range of that reported in nearby regions. Health promotion is needed to encourage affected individuals to recognize symptoms of genital herpes and seek care and advice on reducing transmission. The high seroprevalence among FSWs has potentially serious implications for the HIV epidemic in Indonesia.     

The frequency of unrecognized type 2 herpes simplex virus infection among women. Implications for the control of genital herpes

To evaluate the prevalence of symptomatic versus asymptomatic or unrecognized type 2 herpes simplex virus (HSV-2) infection, the authors performed physical examination, viral cultures, and type-specific serologic assays in 776 randomly selected women attending an STD clinic and 636 female university students. Forty-six percent of women attending the STD clinic compared with 8.8% of the university students had serologic evidence of HSV-2 infection. Clinical or historical evidence of genital herpes was present in only 34% of the HSV-2 seropositive women attending the STD clinic and in 29% of the HSV-2 seropositive women attending the university clinic. Among women attending the STD clinic, the prevalence of recognized genital infection was more common among those with HSV-2 antibodies only versus those with HSV-1 and -2 antibodies (odds ratio = 2.39; 95% confidence interval = 1.30-4.37), suggesting that HSV-1 infection reduces the likelihood of recognizing HSV-2 infection. In view of the high proportion of seropositive individuals with unrecognized HSV-2 infection in both high and low prevalence HSV-2 seropositive populations, newly developed HSV type-specific serologic methods should be evaluated for detecting carriers of HSV-2 infection and counseling these individuals about strategies for avoiding sexual and perinatal transmission of HSV-2.     

Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 infection among attendees of a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Italy. Italian Herpes Forum

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: An increased prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection has been recently observed in industrialized countries. GOAL: To determine HSV-2 seroprevalence in a high-risk population in Italy. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was performed to ascertain the HSV-2 prevalence among 919 persons attending an STD clinic in northern Italy. A HSV-2-specific glycoprotein G-2-based immunoglobulin G enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (Gull/Meridian ELISA; Meridian Diagnostics, Cincinnati, OH) was used and validated against Western blot analysis. RESULTS: A prevalence of 24.6% was found without differences between males and females. Seroprevalence increased with age and number of partners during the previous year. Compared with Western blot analysis, the Gull/Meridian ELISA showed a sensitivity of 91.9% and a specificity of 98%, and positive and negative predictive values of 93.9% and 97.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This is the first Italian survey of HSV-2 infection conducted with a properly validated, Food and Drug Administration-approved, type-specific serologic method in a high-risk population. It is likely that between one to three million adults are infected with HSV-2.     

Serological evaluation of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 infections in pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: Serological evaluation of herpes simplex virus infections during pregnancy. METHODS: 2991 serum samples were obtained during 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimester from 997 pregnant women. Baculovirus expressed glycoproteins gG1 (HSV-1) and gG2 (HSV-2) were used as antigens in ELISA for HSV-1 and HSV-2 IgG and IgA antibodies. RESULTS: The prevalence of HSV-1 gG1 antibodies was 70% and that of HSV-2 gG2 antibodies 16%. Among susceptible women we found five (0.6%) cases with serological evidence of primary HSV-2 infection during pregnancy. Evidence of active HSV-1 infection was found in nine (0.9%) cases. Decline of HSV-2 gG2 IgG antibody levels during pregnancy was pronounced compared with HSV-1 gG1 IgG antibody levels (p < 0.01); also the proportion of seroreversions was considerably higher among HSV-2 seropositives (25%) than among HSV-1 seropositives (3%) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: HSV-2 gG2 IgG antibodies were readily distinguished from HSV-1 gG1 IgG antibodies by the glycoprotein gG ELISAs. Serological assays for gG2 antibodies should guard against the decline of specific antibodies during pregnancy.     

Type-specific seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 and associated risk factors in middle-aged women from 6 countries: the IARC multicentric study

GOAL: To determine type-specific seroprevalence of herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2) and HSV-2 risk factors. STUDY DESIGN: Six-hundred fifty eight middle-aged control women (hospital-based in 4 of 6 countries) from a multicenter cervical cancer case-control study participated from 1985 to 1997. Type-specific serum IgG antibodies against HSV-1 and HSV-2 were detected with Western Blot. RESULTS: HSV-1 seroprevalence was 89% to 100% everywhere except Thailand (51%). HSV-2 seroprevalence ranged from 9% (Spain) to 57% (Colombia), and was independently associated with having >or=2 lifetime sexual partners overall [Odds ratio (OR), 2.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.5-3.1], and in Morocco (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.2-6.1) and Thailand (OR, 4.4; 95% CI, 1.3-15.4), and with being unmarried in Colombia, Peru, Spain, but not significantly in Mali. Women whose male partner's sexual debut was 相似文献   

Is HSV serology useful for the management of first episode genital herpes?

BACKGROUND: First episode genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections can be classified into three groups, primary genital herpes (no previous exposure to HSV), non-primary first episode (IgG antibody to HSV of the non-presenting type), and first episode with pre-existing IgG HSV antibodies. The use of IgM to classify first episode genital herpes has not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of HSV-1 and HSV-2 IgM antibodies for the diagnosis of first episode genital herpes, when compared with clinical diagnosis. METHODS: Patients with a first clinical episode of genital herpes were recruited. Sera were tested for IgG antibodies to HSV-2 using an indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Equivocal results were resolved by western blot. HSV-1 IgG and IgM and HSV-2 IgM antibodies were detected using western blot. RESULTS: 157 patients were recruited. 31 were excluded (missing data or no detectable antibodies and negative viral isolation). Therefore, 126 patients were included in the analysis. 23 (18.3%) had primary genital herpes, 34 (27.0%) non-primary first episode, and 69 (54.8%) had pre-existing genital herpes. The specificity and PPV of HSV IgM was 100%; the sensitivity was 79% and the NPV 85%. CONCLUSION: IgM HSV serology may be useful in the management of some patients with first episode genital herpes and provide an indication of the source of infection. Drawbacks include the low sensitivity and NPV, lack of availability, IgM antibodies may occasionally be produced in response to recurrent infection and, finally, IgM antibodies may take up to 10 days to develop and last 7-10 days.     

Decline in the prevalence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 among Israeli young adults between 1984 and 2002

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2 in male and female soldiers discharged from the Israel Defense Force (IDF) over a period of 18 years. GOAL: The goal of this study was to study the secular trends of HSV-1 and HSV-2 infection rates in Israeli young adults. STUDY DESIGN: Three consecutive cross-sectional studies were carried out on stored sera of systematic random samples of soldiers (median age = 20.8) discharged from the IDF in 1984-1985, 1992-1993, and 2001-2002. HSV-1 and -2 seroprevalence was analyzed using indirect IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for type-specific antibodies. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in HSV-1 and HSV-2 seropositivity rates at discharge from the army and an estimated 10-fold decline in the incidence rates of HSV-2 infection during the military service over the last 2 decades. CONCLUSIONS: The decline in HSV-1 seroprevalence rate is similar to that reported from other industrialized countries. The decrease in HSV-2 seroprevalence and transmission rates among Israeli young adults is steeper than that reported from Western countries.