Immunogenicity of a multiepitope plasmid DNA encoding T and B lymphocyte epitopes from latent membrane protein 2 (LMP2) of Epstein-Barr virus as a vaccine in mice.

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a human oncogenic herpesvirus associating with several malignant diseases. Latent membrane protein 2 (LMP2) of EBV is considered to be an ideal candidate for immunotherapy or prophylactic EBV vaccine. We designed a LMP2 multiepitope containing T and B-cell epitope-rich peptides and constructed a recombinant plasmid containing mammalian codonoptimization EBV LMP2 multiepitope (pcDNA3.1+/EBV-LMP2 multiepitope). After pcDNA3.1+/EBV-LMP2 multiepitope was transfected into COS-7 cells, significant expression of the multiepitope in COS-7 cells was confirmed by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence assay. Western blot analysis indicated that serum from immunized mice could be discerned by the EBV-LMP2 protein and the EBV-LMP2 multiepitope specifically. The plasmid DNA of EBV-LMP2 multiepitope induced high levels anti-EBV membrane protein and anti-EBV LMP2 multiepitope IgG in mice. T lymphocytes from spleen of immunized mice showed a strong CTL activity. The present study suggested that plasmid DNA encoding EBV LMP2 multiepitope capable of stimulating enough cellular and humoral immunity could have potential for preventing or controlling EBV infection and EBV associated disease in mice.

• Authors: Wenshu Li, Qingxin Chen, Qiaoai Lin, Yan Lv, Juan Feng, Jianxiao Liu, Wen Xu, Shao Chen, Xiaochun Zhu, Lifang Zhang
• Journal: Protein and peptide letters (Protein Pept Lett) Vol. 20 Issue 10 Pg. 1136-43 (Oct 2013) ISSN: 1875-5305 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 23688153 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus
• Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte
• Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
• Vaccines, DNA
• Viral Matrix Proteins

Topics

• Animals
• Antibody Formation
• COS Cells
• Chlorocebus aethiops
• Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte (genetics, immunology)
• Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte (genetics, immunology)
• Epstein-Barr Virus Infections (immunology, prevention & control, virology)
• Female
• Herpesvirus 4, Human (genetics, immunology)
• Humans
• Immunization
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Plasmids (genetics, immunology, therapeutic use)
• Transfection
• Vaccines, DNA (genetics, immunology, therapeutic use)
• Viral Matrix Proteins (genetics, immunology)