Latent antigen vaccination in a model gammaherpesvirus infection

J Virol. 2001 Sep;75(17):8283-8. doi: 10.1128/jvi.75.17.8283-8288.2001.

Abstract

Vaccines that can reduce the load of latent gammaherpesvirus infections are eagerly sought. One attractive strategy is vaccination against latency-associated proteins, which may increase the efficiency with which T cells recognize and eliminate latently infected cells. However, due to the lack of tractable animal model systems, the effect of latent-antigen vaccination on gammaherpesvirus latency is not known. Here we use the murine gammaherpesvirus model to investigate the impact of vaccination with the latency-associated M2 antigen. As expected, vaccination had no effect on the acute lung infection. However, there was a significant reduction in the load of latently infected cells in the initial stages of the latent infection, when M2 is expressed. These data show for the first time that latent-antigen vaccination can reduce the level of latency in vivo and suggest that vaccination strategies involving other latent antigens may ultimately be successfully used to reduce the long-term latent infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Viral / genetics
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology
  • Antigens, Viral / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology
  • Gammaherpesvirinae / genetics
  • Gammaherpesvirinae / immunology*
  • Gammaherpesvirinae / physiology*
  • H-2 Antigens / immunology
  • Herpesviridae Infections / immunology
  • Herpesviridae Infections / prevention & control
  • Herpesviridae Infections / virology*
  • Humans
  • Lung / virology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Vaccination
  • Vaccines, DNA / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, DNA / immunology
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / immunology*
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / metabolism
  • Viral Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Viral Vaccines / immunology*
  • Virus Latency / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • H-2 Antigens
  • H-2K(K) antigen
  • Vaccines, DNA
  • Viral Matrix Proteins
  • Viral Vaccines