Protective immunity against herpes simplex virus generated by DNA vaccination compared to natural infection

• Published in: Vaccine 2001-01, Vol.19 (11), p.1538-1546
• Main Authors: Nass, Petra H, Elkins, Karen L, Weir, Jerry P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Viral - biosynthesis; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; DNA vaccination; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; glycoprotein D; glycoprotein gD; Herpes Simplex - immunology; Herpes Simplex - prevention & control; Herpes simplex virus; Herpesvirus 1, Human - genetics; Herpesvirus 1, Human - immunology; Herpesvirus Vaccines - genetics; Herpesvirus Vaccines - immunology; Herpesvirus Vaccines - pharmacology; Immunoglobulin G - biosynthesis; Knockout mice; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Mice, Nude; Mice, SCID; Microbiology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; Vaccines, antisera, therapeutical immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies; Vaccines, DNA - genetics; Vaccines, DNA - immunology; Vaccines, DNA - pharmacology; Viral Envelope Proteins - genetics; Viral Envelope Proteins - immunology; Virology
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/S0264-410X(00)00380-7

To evaluate the utility of plasmid DNA vaccination against disease caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV), we compared the strength of protection against lethal challenge following natural virus infection with that following vaccination with a plasmid encoding HSV glycoprotein gD (gD-DNA). We further determined the cellular basis of each type of protection using lymphocyte deficient knockout mice. Establishment of immunity to HSV using live virus immunization required CD8 + T cells and B cells, but not CD4 + or γ/δ + T cells, and was related to specific antibody levels; surprisingly, CD4 knockout mice had large quantities of IgG anti-HSV serum antibodies. Establishment of immunity to HSV using gD-DNA immunization approached the strength of that generated following sublethal infection, but was dependent on α/β + CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, B cells, and even partially on γ/δ + T cells, and not strictly correlated with antibody levels.