Preconception vaccination with a glycoprotein B (gB) DNA vaccine protects against cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission in the guinea pig model of congenital CMV infection.
DNA vaccines expressing the guinea pig cytomegalovirus (GPCMV) homologs of the glycoprotein B (gB) and UL83 proteins were evaluated for protection against congenital GPCMV infection. After 4 doses of DNA administered by epidermal (gene gun) route, all guinea pigs developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) antibody and, for gB-vaccine recipients, neutralizing antibody. Dams were challenged with 1 x 10(4) plaque-forming units of GPCMV in the third trimester. Preconception vaccination with gB did not decrease overall pup mortality, although, within the gB-vaccine group, pup mortality was lower among dams with high ELISA responses. Preconception maternal vaccination with gB vaccine significantly reduced congenital transmission in liveborn pups. In contrast, UL83 vaccine had no significant effect on pup mortality or vertical transmission of GPCMV. Virus load was significantly lower in infected pups born to gB- and UL83-vaccinated dams than in infected pups born to control dams. These data support the concept that subunit gB vaccination may be useful in protecting against CMV-induced disease.
Schleiss
Mark R
MR
Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA. schlm0@chmcc.org
Bourne
Nigel
N
Bernstein
David I
DI
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D019470:Biolistics; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000151:congenital / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008099:Liver / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D019211:Roseolovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019349:Roseolovirus Infections / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D013154:Spleen / Q000821:virology; D014611:Vaccination; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D019562:Viral Load; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; C065418:cytomegalovirus matrix protein 65kDa; C040495:glycoprotein B, Simplexvirus