Ligand epitope antigen presentation system vaccines against herpes simplex virus.

The Ligand Epitope Antigen Presentation System (L.E.A.

CEL-1000--a peptide with adjuvant activity for Th1 immune responses.

CEL-1000 (derG, DGQEEKAGVVSTGLIGGG) is a small immunomodulatory peptide which delivers demonstrated protective activity in two infectious disease challenge models (HSV and malaria) and an allogenic tumor vaccine model. CEL-1000 and other activators (defensin-beta, CpG ODN, and imiquimod) of the innate immune system promote IFN-gamma-associated protective responses. CEL-1000 is an improved form of peptide G (a peptide from human MHC II beta chain second domain, aa 135-149) known to enhance immune responses of other immunogenic peptides.

A modification of the epidermal scarification model of herpes simplex virus infection to achieve a reproducible and uniform progression of disease.

A slight modification in the method used to remove the top keratinized layer of skin in the epidermal scarification model of HSV infection results in an easier, less painful, more uniform and reproducible means of infection. The back of mice was depilated and the top skin layer was removed either by scratching with the side of a 26 gauge needle, or by abrading with sand paper or a hand held motorized pedicure/manicure instrument. The virus was then applied on the scarified or abraded skin and the mice were observed for lesion development from day 3 to 10 post-infection.