Local Immune Responses to HSV Specific Proteins

Rhoda Ashley Morrow, PhD

This research program is concerned with the immune responses in the genital tract after the acquisition or reactivation of genital herpes virus infections. Through previous work in this project, highly sensitive and unique methods to detect local antibodies against herpes proteins have been developed. These tests are being used to characterize the local immune response to herpes virus infections in the genital tract. The aims of this study are to:

1. Determine if functional local antibody titers can be correlated with the different clinical courses seen in genital herpes patients.
2. Determine prevalence and titer of functional local antibody responses to a gD subunit vaccine.

Report courtesy of Anna Marie Beckmann

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Recent Publications

Ashley RL, Crisostomo F-M, Doss M, Sekulovich RE, Burke RL, Shaughnessy M, Corey L, Polissar N, Langenberg A. Cervical antibody responses to a herpes simplex virus type 2 glycoprotein subunit vaccine. J Infect Dis 1998; 178:1-7.

Ashley RL, Dalessio J, Sekulovich RE. A novel method to assay herpes simplex virus neutralizing antibodies using BHKICP6LacZ-5 ("ELVIS™") cells. Viral Immunol 1998; 10:213-20.

Mbopi-Keou FX, Belec L, Dalessio J, Legoff J, Gresenguet G, Mayaud P, Brown DWG, Ashley RL.  Cervicovaginal neutralizing antibodies to herpes simplex virus (HSV) in dually HSV-1 and HSV-2 seropositive women.  Clin Diag Lab Immuno (in press).