Immunisation with Phage Displaying Peptides Representing Single Epitopes of the Glycoprotein G Can Give Rise to Partial Protective Immunity to HSV-2

• Published in: Virology (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 269; no. 1; pp. 47 - 53
• Main Authors: Grabowska, A.M., Jennings, R., Laing, P., Darsley, M., Jameson, C.L., Swift, L., Irving, W.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 30.03.2000
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Viral - biosynthesis; Antigens, Viral - administration & dosage; Antigens, Viral - genetics; Antigens, Viral - immunology; Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; Epitopes - administration & dosage; Epitopes - genetics; Epitopes - immunology; Genetic Vectors; Herpes Genitalis - immunology; Herpes Genitalis - mortality; Herpes Genitalis - prevention & control; Herpes Genitalis - virology; Herpes simplex virus 2; Herpesvirus 2, Human - genetics; Herpesvirus 2, Human - immunology; Herpesvirus 2, Human - physiology; Injections, Subcutaneous; Inovirus - genetics; Inovirus - immunology; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Molecular Sequence Data; Peptide Fragments - administration & dosage; Peptide Fragments - genetics; Peptide Fragments - immunology; Peptide Library; Time Factors; Vaccination; Vaccines, Synthetic - genetics; Vaccines, Synthetic - immunology; Viral Envelope Proteins - administration & dosage; Viral Envelope Proteins - genetics; Viral Envelope Proteins - immunology; Viral Vaccines - administration & dosage; Viral Vaccines - genetics; Viral Vaccines - immunology
• ISSN: 0042-6822; 1096-0341
• DOI: 10.1006/viro.2000.0185

Filamentous phage displaying peptides representing single epitopes of the glycoprotein G of HSV-2 (gG2) were used as immunogens via the subcutaneous route in Balb/c mice without additional adjuvant. The phage were isolated from a random phage peptide display library and contain 15-mer peptide inserts that mimic epitopes of gG2. In each case, an antibody response to gG2 was generated that was dependent on the dose of phage administered and on the presence of the peptide insert. Phage displaying epitopes of gG2, which map to amino acids 551–570, were the most immunogenic; interestingly, this region of gG2 is frequently recognised by patients infected with HSV-2. The data also provide interesting information as regards choice of peptide mimics for use as immunogens because, surprisingly, the most antigenic of the individual clones was the least immunogenic. In two of the experiments, mice immunised with phage displaying a single epitope of gG2 were protected against challenge with a lethal dose of whole HSV-2. This suggests a possible role for phage-displayed peptides in inducing protective immunity against pathogens and provides a model system for investigating the underlying mechanisms.