Immunization with glycoprotein C of equine herpesvirus-1 is associated with accelerated virus clearance in a murine model

Abstract

The glycoprotein C (gC) gene of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) was expressed in insect cells by a recombinant baculovirus as several products with apparent molecular weights of 66 kDa-80 kDa. The baculovirus EHV-1 gC products were recognised by monoclonal antibody and by EHV-1 convalescent equine sera, indicating conservation of antigenic determinants and confirming this glycoprotein as a target for the equine immune system. Mice immunized with recombinant EHV-1 gC showed accelerated clearance of EHV-1 from respiratory tissues following intranasal challenge. Virus clearance was accompanied by virus specific antibodies and by cell mediated immune responses measured by a delayed type hypersensitivity reaction and lymphocyte stimulation by killed EHV-1 as antigen.

Equine Herpes Virus-1: Virus, Immunity and Vaccines

“…[120]. Similar results have been obtained with baculovirus recombinant gC [119] and gB [121,122]. In other studies, 3 or 4 repeated immunisations with recombinant glycoproteins (gB, gC or gD, alone or in combination), at 2-week intervals, have been shown to induce a humoral immune response composed of VN antibodies, which protects mice against respiratory disease induced by infection with EHV-1, 2 weeks after the last immunisations [123,124].…”

Dendritic cells presenting equine herpesvirus-1 antigens induce protective anti-viral immunity.

“…Thus far, IL-7 has not been reported to be synthesized by DC and it remains to be clarified whether it acts on CD8 + cells alone or on DC as well. Since IL-7 induces the secretion of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in monocytic cells (Alderson et al, 1991) and IL-6 in turn acts as another growth and differentiation factor for CTL (van Snick, 1990), the direct action on DC may not be excluded. The potential involvement of further cytokines in our system remains to be determined.…”

“…The latter cells are thought to play a key role in protection Alber et al, 1995 ;Allen et al, 1995 ;Edens et al, 1996), but the exact conditions for most effectively inducing such a protective response are still a matter of debate. When administered in relatively large amounts, live EHV-1, as well as recombinant glycoproteins gB, gC and gD, can confer protection (Tewari et al, , 1995Osterrieder et al, 1995 ;Stokes et al, 1996). Adoptive transfer of T lymphocytes has successfully been used to reduce virus replication and provide protection in mice (Azmi & Field, 1993 a, b), but it remains unclear which precise role CD4 + and CD8 + T lymphocytes play in the initiation of the protection.…”

Equine Herpesviruses: a Brief Review

“…Similar results have been obtained with baculovirus recombinant gC and gB (Kukreja et. al., 1998;Tewari et. al., 1995).…”