werner@aecom.UUCP (Craig Werner) (03/24/85)
Source: Science, 22 March 1985 227/p. 1490 Berman, et al., Protection from Gential Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 infection by Vaccination with Cloned Type 1 Glycoprotein D. (Editorial Note: All researchers on this paper are connected with Genentech. To me this was the suprising part of the paper, as they usually tend to go the press release route rather than publish in scientific journals) Summary: One cannot make a simple Vaccine for Herpes, because the virus has bee shown to be oncogenic in-vitro (simple terms: it might cause cancer) Therefore, one has to do it with cloning technology. Apparently, a first step was made. One of the envelope (outer) proteins was cloned from Herpes Type I (the safer of the two to work with experimentally). This particular protein has been shown to be more similar to the one occuring in Type 2 than the other 4-5 envelope proteins. The gene was then transferred into Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells (these are easy to grow, and are Mammalian Cells, so do this that bacteria wouldn't do) and the glycoprotein (called gD) isolated in large amounts. Guinea Pigs were then vaccinated with the pure gD (prepared as a Vaccine). These were the best animals to use since they get genital herpes most resembling humans. (No flames about animal experimentation, please). The Guinea Pigs were then infected (the scientific term is "challenged" with Herpes Type 2 intravaginally. The results: Preparation # developing Herpes symptoms Full Vaccination 0/15 Placebo 14/15 Incomplete Vaccine intermediate values (several trials) however developed less lesions when positive. These results indicate that a single vaccine for Herpes Type 1 and Type 2 is possible, although currently it is only possible to protect Guinea pigs from the disease. I suspect human trials, much less distribution, are years away. -- Craig Werner !philabs!aecom!werner What do you expect? Watermelons are out of season!
phil@amdcad.UUCP (Phil Ngai) (03/26/85)
Do you have to wrap the guinea pigs with duct tape before you use them?
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Liar liar, pants on fire. May your nose grow long as a telephone wire.
Phil Ngai (408) 749-5720
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