title: Murine gamma-herpesvirus 68 glycoprotein 150 protects against virus-induced mononucleosis: a model system for gamma-herpesvirus vaccination.
abstract: Murine gamma-herpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) is a model for the study of the pathogenesis of gamma-herpesviruses. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a highly related gamma-herpesvirus that causes significant disease in humans. The major membrane antigen gp350 of EBV is a candidate vaccine antigen for protection against EBV-related disease. An MHV-68 glycoprotein, gp150, has significant homology to EBV gp350. We have therefore used the MHV-68 gp150 to model the potential efficacy of EBV gp350 in protecting from virus-associated disease. A recombinant vaccinia virus expressing MHV-68 gp150 was constructed. This recombinant vaccinia virus was used to infect mice via the subcutaneous route. This vaccination resulted in production of MHV-68-neutralising antibodies. Mice were then challenged intra-nasally with MHV-68. MHV-68-associated mononucleosis was virtually abrogated in immunised mice. However, mice did establish MHV-68 latency. The results suggest that gp350 may be effective as an immunogen to prevent EBV-associated infectious mononucleosis in humans that are EBV-seronegative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Edinburgh, UK. james.stewart@ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Micali
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Usherwood
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bonina
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Nash
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D018142:Gammaherpesvirinae / Q000276:immunology*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000494:pharmacology; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000494:pharmacology*