Mice genetic immunization with plasmid DNA encoding a secreted form of HSV-1 gB induces a protective immune response against herpes simplex virus type 1 infection.
Intramuscularly (i.m.) delivered plasmid DNA encoding a secreted form of glycoprotein B of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1 gB1s) was evaluated for the ability to elicit a protective immune response in Balb/c mice. Animals received three i.m. injections of a gB1s expression plasmid (pRP-RSV-gB1s) or of a wild-type transmembrane gB1 coding plasmid (pRP-RSV-gB1), while control mice were injected with the vector alone (pRP-RSV). A specific antibody response was observed in almost all immunized animals, and in most cases antibodies were also detected after 1 month in the absence of further vaccine boosts. Serum antibodies mostly displayed neutralizing activity against HSV-1. Glycoprotein B1s DNA immunization was also effective in protecting animals against the primary infection induced by a subsequent HSV-1 challenge and limited HSV-1 infection of sensitive ganglia.
Department of Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine (Section of Microbiology), University of Ferrara, Italy.
E
E
Caselli
P
P
Grandi
R
R
Argnani
P G
PG
Balboni
R
R
Selvatici
R
R
Manservigi
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000821:virology; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D010957:Plasmids / Q000276:immunology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D017735:Virus Latency
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C040495:glycoprotein B, Simplexvirus