IMMUNE-RESPONSES AND PROTECTIVE EFFICACY OF RECOMBINANT BACULOVIRUS-EXPRESSED GLYCOPROTEINS OF EQUINE HERPESVIRUS-1 (EHV-1) GB, GC AND GD ALONE OR IN COMBINATIONS IN BALB C MICE/

Baculovirus-expressed glycoproteins of EHV-1 gB, gC and go alone or in combination evoked antibody responses and protected vaccinated mice a gainst a challenge with EHV-1 gB, go, gB + gC, gB + gD and gC + gD eli cited very high levels of ELISA antibodies while gC and gC + gD elicit ed high levels of virus neutralising antibodies. Western blotting demo nstrated that the antibodies produced were not only specific for the b aculovirus-expressed glycoproteins gB, gC and go, but also highly spec ific for each EHV-1glycoprotein. Vaccination of mice with gB or go pre vented clinical signs of infection in mice challenged with EHV-1 and a ll vaccinated groups of mice except controls shelved a rapid clearance of virus from the lungs and a reduction in lesions characteristic of herpesviruses in the lungs post-challenge. Notably, the lungs of mice vaccinated with gB, go or gB + gD and challenged with EHV-1showed prom inent peribronchiolar and perivascular aggregations of mononuclear cel ls, predominantly lymphocytes. Immunocytochemical staining of these se ctions showed large numbers of T cells, suggesting an active role for these cells at the site of virus replication post-challenge. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.