Truncated VZV gE Induces High-Titer Neutralizing Antibodies in Mice
Jiehui Wu,
Hai Li,
Yanping Yuan,
Ruichen Wang,
Tianxin Shi,
Ziyi Li,
Qianqian Cui,
Shihong Fu,
Kai Nie,
Fan Li,
Qikai Yin,
Jiayi Du,
Huanyu Wang,
Songtao Xu
Affiliations
Jiehui Wu
National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
Hai Li
WHO WPRO Regional Reference Measles/Rubella Laboratory, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
Yanping Yuan
National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
Ruichen Wang
National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
Tianxin Shi
National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
Ziyi Li
National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
Qianqian Cui
National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
Shihong Fu
National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
Kai Nie
National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
Fan Li
National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
Qikai Yin
National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
Jiayi Du
Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
Huanyu Wang
National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
Songtao Xu
National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
Backgrounds: A contemporary public health challenge is the increase in the prevalence rates of herpes zoster (HZ) worldwide. Methods: In this work, the gE gene structure was analyzed using bioinformatics techniques, and three plasmids of varying lengths, tgE537, tgE200, and tgE350, were expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. These proteins were used to immunize BALB/c mice with Al/CpG adjuvant; ELISPOT and FCM were used to evaluate cellular immunity; and ELISA, VZV microneutralization, and FAMA assays were performed to detect antibody titers. Results: Target protein concentrations of 1.8 mg/mL for tgE537, 0.15 mg/mL for tgE200 and 0.65 mg/mL for tgE350 were effectively produced. The ability of the three protein segments to stimulate CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, as well as to cause lymphocytes to secrete IFN-γ and IL-4, did not significantly differ from one another. Both tgE537 and tgE350 were capable of generating VZV-specific antibodies and neutralizing antibodies, while tgE350 had the highest neutralizing antibody titer (4388). There was no equivalent humoral immune response induced by tgE200. Conclusions: The results of this investigation provide the groundwork for the creation of HZ recombinant vaccines using truncated proteins as antigens.
