Delayed but effective induction of mucosal memory immune responses against genital HSV-2 in the absence of secondary lymphoid organs

To examine whether local immunization in the absence of secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs) could establish effective antiviral memory responses in the female genital tract, we examined immunity in the vaginal tracts of LTα-/- mice, LTα-/- SPL (splenectomized), and control C57BL/6 (WT) mice. All three groups of mice were immunized intravaginally (IVAG) with attenuated thymidine kinase-negative (TK(-)) Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and …