Inoculation with DNA encoding the glycoprotein gp2 reduces severity of equine herpesvirus 1 infection in a mouse respiratory model.
The envelope glycoprotein 2 (gp2) of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) has no known homologue in other herpesviruses with the exception of some equid alphaherpesviruses. In order to investigate the potential of gp2 as a vaccine antigen, expression vectors were constructed to encode full-length gp2, a truncated version lacking the membrane anchor, and the C-terminal region. Intramuscular inoculation of mice with these DNA constructs induced neutralizing antibody against EHV-1 and, following intranasal challenge with EHV-1, mice inoculated with any of the gp2 DNA constructs cleared virus more rapidly from their lungs than control mice. The rate of clearance was comparable to that for glycoprotein D DNA, indicating gp2 as a potential antigen for inclusion in a subunit vaccine.
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D004861:Herpesvirus 1, Equid / Q000276:immunology*; D022283:Herpesvirus Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*
D022283:Herpesvirus Vaccines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C077966:glycoprotein 300, Equid herpesvirus 1