VP1 pseudocapsids, but not a glutathione-S-transferase VP1 fusion protein, prevent polyomavirus infection in a T-cell immune deficient experimental mouse model.

Abstract

The ability to vaccinate against polyomavirus infection in a T-cell deficient as well as a normal immune context was studied using polyomavirus major capsid protein (VP1) pseudocapsids (VP1-ps) or a glutathione-S-transferase-VP1 (GST-VP1) fusion protein. VP1-ps (1 or 10 microg) were administered subcutaneously, alone or together with Freund's complete and incomplete adjuvant, to CD4(-/-)8(-/-) T-cell deficient or normal C57Bl/6 mice on four occasions. Alternatively, CD4(-/-)8(-/-) and normal mice were inoculated with either GST-VP1 or Py-VP1-ps (5 microg). Following immunisation, antibody titres were tested by ELISA to VP1-ps or GST-VP1 or by haemagglutination inhibition (HAI). Mice were then infected with polyomavirus. Three weeks post-infection, the mice were killed and examined for the presence of polyomavirus DNA by PCR. Viral DNA was not detected in CD4(-/-)8(-/-) mice immunised with either VP1-ps alone or in combination with Freund's complete and incomplete adjuvant, or in any of the normal mice immunised with VP1-ps or GST-VP1. However, viral DNA was detected in 2/5 of the CD4(-/-)8(-/-) mice immunised with GST-VP1 and in non-immunised controls. Greater antibody titres were observed to VP1-ps than to GST-VP1 in CD4(-/-)8(-/-) mice after VP1-ps compared to GST-VP1 immunisation and antibody responses were better in normal than in immune-deficient mice. Only immunisation with VP1-ps resulted in haemagglutination inhibition. Complete protection against polyomavirus infection in the T-cell deficient context was obtained with VP1-ps, but not with GST-VP1, immunisation using the present vaccination protocol.

• Authors: Andrea Vlastos, Kalle Andreasson, Karin Tegerstedt, Dana Holländerová, Shirin Heidari, Jitka Forstová, Torbjörn Ramqvist, Tina Dalianis
• Journal: Journal of medical virology (J Med Virol) Vol. 70 Issue 2 Pg. 293-300 (Jun 2003) ISSN: 0146-6615 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12696121 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Viral
• Capsid Proteins
• Recombinant Fusion Proteins
• VP1 protein, polyomavirus
• Viral Vaccines
• Glutathione Transferase

Topics

• Animals
• Antibodies, Viral (blood)
• Capsid
• Capsid Proteins (genetics, immunology, metabolism)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Glutathione Transferase (genetics, immunology, metabolism)
• Guinea Pigs
• Hemagglutination
• Humans
• Immunization
• Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes (immunology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Polyomavirus (immunology)
• Polyomavirus Infections (prevention & control, virology)
• Recombinant Fusion Proteins (immunology)
• T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Tumor Virus Infections (prevention & control, virology)
• Viral Vaccines (administration & dosage, immunology)