Abstract: Objective: To assess the effect of combined targeting siRNA (CT-siRNA, HSV-2 UL27.2 gene combined UL29.2 gene) on guinea pig with genital herpes. Methods: (1) HSV-2 infection experiment: sixty guinea pigs were divided into the treatment group and control group (30 in each group). Guinea pigs in the treatment group were treated with CT-siRNA on vulva and vagina and guinea pigs in the control group were treated with not targeting any gene control RNA (siN.C) on vulva and vagina. After 4 hours, the herpes virus type 2 (HSV-2) wild strains were inoculated to vagina in all the guinea pigs. The incidence, mortality and positivity rate of HSV-2 culture of vaginal secretions were assessed. (2) Sixty guinea pig models with HSV-2 and the infection of genital herpes were divided into the treatment group and control group (30 guinea pigs in each group). Guinea pigs in the treatment group were treated with CT-siRNA on vagina and those in the control group were treated with siN.C on vagina, once a week until lesion healing. All guinea pigs were treated with intraperitoneal injections of cyclophosphamide and ultraviolet radiation to induce the recurrence of GH after the 2 month treatment and the recurrence rate was assessed. Results: The survival rate in the treatment group was 80%, which was higher than that in the control group (23.3%), (P＜0.05). At day 10 of the treatment, the lesions score in the treatment group was (0.25±0.25), which was lower than that in the control group (1.0±1.25) (P＜0.05). The recurrence rate in the treatment group was 16.7%, which was lower than that in the control group (60%), (P＜0.05). Conclusion: Topical CT-siRNA can reduce the inflammation of HSV-2 and recurrence of GH.

Key words: siRNA, genital herpes, animal mode