Replication-Defective Herpes Simplex Virus Mutant Strains as Genital Herpes Vaccines and Vaccine Vectors

Abstract

Viral vaccines have traditionally been live, attenuated viruses, or inactivated virus/subunits. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) vaccine candidates based on inactivated viruses or subunits have not been effective thus far. In addition, attenuation of HSV to make a safe vaccine candidate has not allowed good immunogenicity to be retained. Therefore, novel vaccine strategies have been initiated, including replication-defective and single-cycle HSV strains. In this chapter, I will review the design and properties of these replication-defective virus vaccine candidates and the preclinical and clinical results that have been obtained using them.