Vaccine-induced antibodies target sequestered viral antigens to prevent ocular HSV-1 pathogenesis, preserve vision, and preempt productive neuronal infection.

The cornea is essential for vision yet highly sensitive to immune-mediated damage following infection. Generating vaccines that provide sterile immunity against ocular surface pathogens without evoking vision loss is therefore clinically challenging. Here, we tested a prophylactic live-attenuated vaccine against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), a widespread human pathogen that can cause corneal blindness.