Transcriptional Analysis of the Guinea Pig Mucosal Immune Response to Intravaginal Infection with Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2.

ABSTRACT: Genital herpes infection in guinea pigs closely models human infection but tools for immune characterization are limited. Immunity to HSV infection at the vaginal epithelial surface was characterized in guinea pigs using PCR-based array analysis of vaginal swab samples. IFN? was one of the most significantly upregulated genes throughout the infection and over 40% of genes with significantly altered expression were linked to IFN? based on INTERFEROME analysis. IFN? transcripts and biologically active IFN? at the genital mucosa were confirmed by RTPCR and IFN? reporter cells. Gene ontology analysis revealed activation of many biological processes related to genital immunity shared by humans and mice demonstrating the similarities of the local immune response to primary genital HSV-2 infection in guinea pigs and other established models. This transcription-based array will be useful for dissection of immunity during reactivation from latency, an infection outcome that is not well recapitulated by other animal models.

SUBMITTER: Veselenak RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5930930 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature