The Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 virion tegument phosphoprotein 11/12 (HSV-1 VP11/12) is a major antigen targeted by CD8+ T cells from HSV-seropositive individuals. However, whether and which VP11/12-epitope-specific CD8+ T cells play a role in the “natural” protection seen in seropositive healthy asymptomatic (ASYMP) individuals (who have never had clinical herpes disease) remain to be determined. In this study, we used multiple prediction computer-assisted algorithms to identify 10 potential HLA-A*02:01-restricted CD8+ T cell epitopes from the 716 amino acids sequence of VP11/12. Three out of ten epitopes exhibited high to moderate binding affinity to HLA-A*02:01 molecules. In ten sequentially studied HLA-A*02:01 positive and HSV-1-seropositive ASYMP individuals, the most frequent, robust and polyfunctional effector CD8+ T-cell responses, as assessed by a combination of tetramer frequency, granzyme B, granzyme K, perforin, CD107a/b cytotoxic degranulation, IFN-γ and multiplex cytokines assays, were predominantly directed against three epitopes: VP11/1266–74, VP11/12220–228 and VP11/12702–710. Interestingly, ASYMP individuals had significantly higher proportion of CD45RAlowCCR7lowCD44highCD62LlowCD27lowCD28lowCD8+ effector memory T cells (TEM) specific to the three epitopes, compared to symptomatic (SYMP) individuals (with a history of numerous episodes of recurrent ocular herpetic disease). Moreover, immunization of HLA-A*02:01 transgenic mice with the three ASYMP CD8+ TEM cell epitopes induced robust and polyfunctional epitope-specific CD8+ TEM cells that were associated with a strong protective immunity against ocular herpes infection and disease. Our findings outline phenotypic and functional features of protective HSV-specific CD8+ T cells that should guide the development of an effective T-cell-based herpes vaccine.

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein B (gB)-specific CD8؉ T cells protect mice from herpes infection and disease. However, whether and which HSV-1 gB-specific CD8؉ T cells play a key role in the "natural" protection seen in HSV-1-seropositive healthy asymptomatic (ASYMP) individuals (who have never had clinical herpes disease) remain to be determined. In this study, we have dissected the phenotypes and the functions of HSV-1 gB-specific CD8 O ver a billion individuals worldwide carry herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), which causes a wide range of mild to life-threatening diseases (1-3). Although the virus reactivates from latency and is shed multiple times each year in body fluids (i.e., tears, saliva, and nasal and vaginal secretions), most reactivations are subclinical due to an efficient immune-mediated containment of the infection and disease (4-7). Thus, most infected individuals are asymptomatic (ASYMP) and do not present any apparent recurrent herpetic disease (e.g., cold sores, genital, or ocular herpetic disease). However, a small proportion of individuals experience endless recurrences of herpetic disease, usually multiple times a year, often necessitating continuous antiviral therapy (i.e., with acyclovir and derivatives) (8,9). In those symptomatic (SYMP) individuals, HSV-1 frequently reactivates from latency, reinfects the eyes, and may trigger recurrent and severe corneal herpetic disease, a leading cause of infectious corneal blindness in

There is an urgent need for chemical-free and biological-free safe adjuvants to enhance the immunogenicity of vaccines against widespread viral pathogens, such as herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), that infect a large proportion of the world human population. In the present study, we investigated the safety, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy of a laser adjuvant-assisted peptide (LAP) vaccine in the B6 mouse model of genital herpes. This LAP vaccine and its laser-free peptide (LFP) vaccine analog contain the immunodominant HSV-2 glycoprotein B CD8 T cell epitope (HSV-gB) covalently linked with the promiscuous glycoprotein D CD4 T helper cell epitope (HSV-gD). Prior to intradermal delivery of the LAP vaccine, the lower-flank shaved skin of B6 or CD11c/eYFP transgenic mice received a topical skin treatment with 5% imiquimod cream and then was exposed for 60 s to a laser, using the FDA-approved nonablative diode. Compared to the LFP vaccine, the LAP vaccine (i) triggered mobilization of dendritic cells (DCs) in the skin, which formed small spots along the laser-treated areas, (ii) induced phenotypic and functional maturation of DCs, (iii) stimulated long-lasting HSV-specific effector memory CD8 T cells (T cells) and tissue-resident CD8 T cells (T cells) locally in the vaginal mucocutaneous tissues (VM), and (iv) induced protective immunity against genital herpes infection and disease. As an alternative to currently used conventional adjuvants, the chemical- and biological-free laser adjuvant offers a well-tolerated, simple-to-produce method to enhance mass vaccination for widespread viral infections. Herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) infect a large proportion of the world population. There is an urgent need for chemical-free and biological-free safe adjuvants that would advance mass vaccination against the widespread herpes infections. The present study demonstrates that immunization with a laser-assisted herpes peptide vaccine triggered skin mobilization of dendritic cells (DCs) that stimulated strong and long-lasting HSV-specific effector memory CD8 T cells (T cells) and tissue-resident CD8 T cells (T cells) locally in the vaginal mucocutaneous tissues. The induced local CD8 T cell response was associated with protection against genital herpes infection and disease. These results draw attention to chemical- and biological-free laser adjuvants as alternatives to currently used conventional adjuvants to enhance mass vaccination for widespread viral infections, such as those caused by HSV-1 and HSV-2.

Generation and maintenance of high quantity and quality memory CD8(+) T cells determine the level of protection from viral, bacterial, and parasitic re-infections, and hence constitutes a primary goal for T cell epitope-based human vaccines and immunotherapeutics. Phenotypically and functionally characterizing memory CD8(+) T cells that provide protection against herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) infections, which cause blinding ocular herpes, genital herpes, and oro-facial herpes, is critical for better vaccine design. We have recently categorized 2 new major sub-populations of memory symptomatic and asymptomatic CD8(+) T cells based on their phenotype, protective vs. pathogenic function, and anatomical locations. In this report we are discussing a new direction in developing T cell-based human herpes vaccines and immunotherapeutics based on the emerging new concept of "symptomatic and asymptomatic memory CD8(+) T cells."

In response to pathogens, especially viruses, cells release interferons and other cytokines to fight the infections. Interferons are typically divided into three types: I (e.g., INF-α, IFN-β), II (e.g., IFN-γ), and III (e.g., IFN-λ1, IFN-λ2). All interferons are important for fighting viral infections and for regulating the immune system. In addition, interferons are critically involved in cancer and autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and multiple sclerosis. Expression profiling of interferons and other related cytokines is critical in achieving a deeper understanding of the immune responses and various disease processes. We have developed a multiplex Human Interferon Panel, using fluorescence-encoded beads that are suitable for use on various flow cytometers. This panel allows simultaneous quantification of 13 cytokines involved in anti-virus responses including interferons (α, β, γ, λ1 and λ2), interleukins (1β, 6, 8, 10, 12), TNF-α, IP-10 and GM-CSF. Each antibody pair was carefully selected for assay specificity, sensitivity, accuracy and reproducibility. The panel has been validated by detecting expected changes in biological samples. Further advantages include high sensitivity, small sample volume, flexible assay configurations, and time- and cost-effectiveness. The Interferon Panel can be used for serum, plasma, cell culture supernatant and other sample types, offering a useful tool for biomedical research and drug discovery.