Immunization of BALB/c mice with DNA encoding equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) glycoprotein D affords partial protection in a model of EHV-1-induced abortion.
DNA-mediated immunization was assessed in a murine model of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) abortion. Whilst there are differences between the model and natural infection in the horse, literature suggests that EHV-1 infection of pregnant mice can be used to assess the potential ability of vaccine candidates to protect against abortion. Female BALB/c mice were inoculated twice, 4 weeks apart, with an expression vector encoding EHV-1 glycoprotein D (gD DNA). They were mated 15 days after the second inoculation, challenged at day 15 of pregnancy and killed 3 days later. The gD DNA-inoculated mice had fewer foetuses which were damaged or had died in utero (6% in gD DNA, 21% vector DNA and 28% in nil inoculated groups challenged with EHV-1), a reduction in the stunting effect of EHV-1 infection on foetuses (gD DNA: 0.40g+/-0.06, vector DNA: 0.34g+/-0.10), reduced placental and herpesvirus-specific lung histopathology and a lower titre of virus (TCID(50)+/-SEM/lung) in maternal lung than control groups (gD DNA 4.7+/-0.3, vector 5.3+/-0.2, nil 5.6+/-0.2). Maternal antibody to EHV-1 gD was demonstrated in pups born to a dam inoculated 123 days earlier with gD DNA. Although protection from abortion was incomplete, immunization of mice with gD DNA demonstrated encouragingly the potential of this vaccine strategy.
Walker
C
C
Department of Biological Sciences, Division of Environmental and Life Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
Ruitenberg
K M
KM
Love
D N
DN
Millar Whalley
J
J
D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology*; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D004861:Herpesvirus 1, Equid / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011247:Pregnancy; D019444:Vaccines, DNA
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D019444:Vaccines, DNA