Development of KSHV vaccine platforms and chimeric MHV68-K-K8.1 glycoprotein for evaluating the in vivo immunogenicity and efficacy of KSHV vaccine candidates

Abstract

Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)/human herpesvirus 8 is an etiological agent of Kaposi’s Sarcoma, multicentric Castleman’s disease, and primary effusion lymphoma. Considering the high seroprevalence reaching up to 80% in sub-Saharan Africa, an effective vaccine is crucial for preventing KSHV infection. However, vaccine development has been limited due to the lack of an effective animal model that supports KSHV infection. Murine Herpesvirus 68 (MHV68), a natural mouse pathogen persisting lifelong post-infection, presents a promising model for KSHV infection. In this study, we developed KSHV vaccine and a chimeric MHV68 carrying the KSHV glycoprotein, serving as a surrogate challenge virus for testing KSHV vaccines in a mouse model. Among KSHV virion glycoproteins, K8.1 is the most abundant envelope glycoprotein with the highest immunogenicity. We developed two K8.1 vaccines: K8.1 mRNA-lipid nanoparticle (LNP) vaccine and K8.1 26–87 -Ferritin (FT) nanoparticle vaccines. Both induced humoral responses in immunized mice, whereas K8.1 mRNA LNP also induced T cell responses. Using BACmid-mediated homologous recombination, the MHV68 M7 (gp150) gene was replaced with KSHV K8.1 gene to generate chimeric MHV68-K-K8.1. MHV68-K-K8.1 established acute and latent infection in the lungs and spleens of infected mice, respectively. Mice immunized with K8.1 mRNA LNP or K8.1 26–87 -FT showed a reduction of MHV68-K-K8.1 titer but not MHV68 wild type (WT) titer in the lung. In addition, viral reactivation of MHV68-K-K8.1 was also significantly reduced in K8.1 mRNA LNP-immunized mice. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of two vaccine candidates in providing immunity against KSHV K8.1 and introduces a surrogate MHV68 system for evaluating vaccine efficacy in vivo . IMPORTANCE Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a prevalent virus that establishes lifelong persistent infection in humans and is linked to several malignancies. While antiretroviral therapy has reduced Kaposi’s Sarcoma (KS) complications in people with HIV, KS still affects individuals with well-controlled HIV, older men without HIV, and transplant recipients. Despite its significant impact on human health, however, research on KSHV vaccine has been limited, mainly due to the lack of interest and the absence of a suitable animal model. This study addresses these challenges by developing KSHV K8.1 vaccine with two platforms, mRNA lipid nanoparticle (LNP) and FT nanoparticle. Additionally, chimeric virus, MHV68-K-K8.1, was created to evaluate KSHV vaccine efficacy in vivo . Vaccination of K8.1 mRNA LNP or K8.1 26–87 -FT significantly reduced MHV68-K-K8.1 titers. Developing an effective KSHV vaccine requires an innovative approach to ensure safety and efficacy, especially for the immunocompromised population and people with limited healthcare resources. This study could be a potential blueprint for future KSHV vaccine development.