Abstract
Virion glycoproteins such as glycoprotein D (gD) are believed to be the dominant antigens of herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2). We have observed that mice immunized with a live HSV-2 ICP0 - mutant virus, HSV-2 0ΔNLS, are 10 to 100 times better protected against genital herpes than mice immunized with a HSV-2 gD subunit vaccine (PLoS ONE 6:e17748). In light of these results, we sought to determine which viral proteins were the dominant antibody-generators (antigens) of the live HSV-2 0ΔNLS vaccine. Western blot analyses indicated the live HSV-2 0ΔNLS vaccine elicited an IgG antibody response against 9 or more viral proteins. Many antibodies were directed against infected-cell proteins of >100 kDa in size, and only 10 ± 5% of antibodies were directed against gD. Immunoprecipitation (IP) of total HSV-2 antigen with 0ΔNLS antiserum pulled down 19 viral proteins. Mass spectrometry suggested 44% of immunoprecipitated viral peptides were derived from two HSV-2 infected cells proteins, RR-1 and ICP8, whereas only 14% of immunoprecipitated peptides were derived from HSV-2’s thirteen glycoproteins. Collectively, the results suggest the immune response to the live HSV-2 0ΔNLS vaccine includes antibodies specific for infected cell proteins, capsid proteins, tegument proteins, and glycoproteins. This increased breadth of antibody-generating proteins may contribute to the live HSV-2 vaccine’s capacity to elicit superior protection against genital herpes relative to a gD subunit vaccine.
Highlights
Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) infects more than 530 million people worldwide between the ages of 14 and 49 [1, 2], and >20 million individuals live with genital herpes disease that recurs more than once a year
Mice were immunized on Days 0 and 30 with i. culture medium, ii. live HSV-2 0ΔNLS, iii. adjuvanted glycoprotein D-2, or iv. wild-type HSV-2 MS where infection was restrained with acyclovir (MS+ACV), and sera were collected on Day 60 [17]
Serum from a HSV-2 0ΔNLS-immunized mouse contained IgG antibodies that bound many HSV-2 proteins, which ranged in molecular weight doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0116091.g001 (MW) from 40 to >250 kDa (Fig. 1C)
Summary
Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) infects more than 530 million people worldwide between the ages of 14 and 49 [1, 2], and >20 million individuals live with genital herpes disease that recurs more than once a year. Wild-type HSV-2 may cause severe infections in neonates [3, 4], and HSV-2-infected individuals are placed at ~3-fold higher risk for acquiring human immunodeficiency virus [5]. It is widely agreed that an effective HSV-2 vaccine is an important and unmet medical need. Glycoprotein subunit vaccines represent the most widely studied approach to develop a safe and effective HSV-2 vaccine. Six clinical trials of HSV-2 glycoprotein D (gD-2) and/or. PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0116091 February 6, 2015
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