CHARACTERISTICS OF EQUINE HERPESVIRUS-1 GLYCOPROTEINS EXPRESSED IN INSECT CELLS

A series of recombinant baculoviruses containing genes for glycoprotei ns C, D, H and L, of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) have been constructe d, and the EHV-1 products characterised by gel electrophoresis and imm unoblotting. The EHV-1 glycoproteins expressed in insect cells were si milar but not identical in apparent sizes to those expressed in EHV-1 infected mammalian cells. Each of the EHV-1 products was recognised by convalescent equine sera, indicating that they were all targets for a n equine immune response. Mice immunised with baculovirus-expressed EH V-1 gD and gC acquired an enhanced ability to clear challenge EHV-1 fr om respiratory tissues, in association with both neutralising antibody and cell mediated immune responses.