title: Ability of yeast Ty-VLPs (virus-like particles) containing varicella-zoster virus (VZV)gE and assembly protein fragments to induce in vitro proliferation of human lymphocytes from VZV immune patients.
abstract: Yeast Ty virus-like particles (VLPs) containing viral protein inserts have previously been shown to be potent immunogens, inducing both humoral and cell mediated immunity (CMI). The antigenicity of hybrid VLPs containing fragments of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) gE protein or the assembly protein (AP) was assessed by lymphocyte proliferation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with a recent natural VZV infection were stimulated in vitro with VZV-VLPs together with control antigens. PBMC samples from both varicella (85%) and zoster (75%) patients proliferated in responses to at least one of the gE VZV-VLPs. As reported for the first time, VZV specific lymphocyte responses were also identified towards the VZV AP in two varicella and two zoster patient samples. The results demonstrate specific CMI recognition of the VZV gE fragments tested and the VZV AP delivered in the form of recombinant Ty-VLPs, and highlights their potential use as a recombinant antigen delivery system for vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, St. Bartholomew's and the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, United Kingdom. mwelsh@alpha1.dani.gov.uk
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Welsh
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garcia-Valcarcel
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aitken
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Jeffries
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Layton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000276:immunology; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000276:immunology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014771:Virion / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D019065:Virus Assembly; D015003:Yeasts / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C089580:glycoprotein E, Suid herpesvirus 1