|
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) can establish latent
infections in sensory ganglia after primary infection.
Subsequent reactivation is usually fatal in immunocompromised
patients. We planed to study the effect of immunization in mice
with synthetic viral peptides on HSV-1 infection and
reactivation. Expression kinetics of gH&gL glycoproteins in
cells infected with HSV-1 were also studied using antisera
against viral gH and gL peptides. After i.p. immunization with
synthetic peptides mimicking various viral glycoproteins,and
Rho/45-59 pepeides mimicking anticlotting factor,rhodostomin,
BALB/c mice were i.p.challenged with HSV-1 KOS strain. Mice
paralysis percentage was recorded and protection efficiency was
evaluated. Only gH/561-579 peptide (1 LD50 KOS) and mixed
peptides of gH/561-579 and gB/64-78 (100 LD50 KOS) offered
significant protection. The binding activity of gH/561- 579
anti-serum to HSV-1 virions was very weak.This suggests that
the cellular immunity may be involved in the protective
response. The HSV-1 latent infection in BALB/c mice could be
established by ocular inoculation with KOS strain. BALB/c mice
primed with gH /561-579-OVA conjugate before virus inoculation,
eye disease of mice were less severe and virus were detectable
in trigeminal ganglia. Priming with gH/561-579 could thus
increase the efficiency of latency. Subsequent treatment of
latently infected mice with cyclophosphoamide and dexamethasone
was able to amply reduce virus titer in trigeminal ganglia,
indicating the induction of reactivation is successful.
Experiments done by use of "Fluorecent antibody" and
"Peroxidase anti-peroxidase" techniques revealed that the
expression of gL was earlier than that of gH or virions. gL was
detectable 1 hr after infection; but only virions were
detectable 4hr later,indicating gH/gL heterodimer were formed
and gL antigenicity was thus lost.
|