Safety and immunogenicity of long HSV-2 peptides complexed with rhHsc70 in HSV-2 seropositive persons

► T-cell immunity is required to contain HSV infection. ► HSV vaccines tested thus far elicited predominantly antibody response. ► A candidate vaccine of 32 HSV-2 peptides complexed with recombinant human heat shock protein Hsc70 was administered to HSV-2 seropositive healthy adults in a Phase 1 study. ► The vaccine elicited a significant CD4+ and CD8+ T cell response and was well tolerated.