Immunization with DNA vaccines encoding glycoprotein D or glycoprotein B, alone or in combination, induces protective immunity in animal models of herpes simplex virus-2 disease.
DNA vaccines expressing herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) full-length glycoprotein D (gD), or a truncated form of HSV-2 glycoprotein B (gB) were evaluated for protective efficacy in two experimental models of HSV-2 infection. Intramuscular (i.m.) injection of mice showed that each construction induced neutralizing serum antibodies and protected the mice from lethal HSV-2 infection. Dose-titration studies showed that low doses (< or = 1 microgram) of either DNA construction induced protective immunity, and that a single immunization with the gD construction was effective. The two DNAs were then tested in a low-dosage combination in guinea pigs. Immune sera from DNA-injected animals had antibodies to both gD and gB, and virus neutralizing activity. When challenged by vaginal infection with HSV-2, the DNA-immunized animals were significantly protected from primary genital disease.
McClements
W L
WL
Department of Virus and Cell Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, PA 19486, USA.
Armstrong
M E
ME
Keys
R D
RD
Liu
M A
MA
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000917:Antibody Formation; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney; D051379:Mice; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014709:Vero Cells; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines; C044525:glycoprotein B, herpes simplex virus type 2; C040570:glycoprotein D-herpes simplex virus type 2