Trivalent nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccine yields durable memory B cell protection against genital herpes in preclinical models.

ABSTRACT: Nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccines have gained global attention because of COVID-19. We evaluated a similar vaccine approach for preventing a chronic, latent genital infection rather than an acute respiratory infection. We used animal models to compare an HSV-2 trivalent nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccine with the same antigens prepared as proteins, with an emphasis on antigen-specific memory B cell responses and immune correlates of protection. In guinea pigs, serum neutralizing-antibody titers were higher at 1 month and declined far less by 8 months in mRNA- compared with protein-immunized animals. Both vaccines protected against death and genital lesions when infected 1 month after immunization; however, protection was more durable in the mRNA group compared with the protein group when inf

SUBMITTER: Awasthi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8631595 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature