Zwitterionic detergent solubilisation of HSV-1 surface antigens

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Immunology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections are a significant global health concern.
• Development of effective HSV vaccines remains a priority.
• Current methods for extracting HSV antigens may not be optimal for vaccine preparation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of Empigen BB, a zwitterionic detergent, for extracting HSV-1 antigens.
• To compare Empigen BB with non-ionic detergents (Nonidet P40, Triton-X-100) for antigen extraction and purification.
• To assess the immunogenicity and protective potential of Empigen-extracted HSV antigens as a vaccine candidate.

Main Methods:

• Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infected cells were treated with Empigen BB.
• Antigen preparations were partially purified using ultracentrifugation and sucrose density gradients.
• Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to characterize viral glycoproteins (gB, gC, gD, gE).
• Mice were immunized with antigen preparations, with or without alum adjuvant, and challenged with HSV-1 and HSV-2.

Main Results:

• Empigen BB facilitated the separation of four major HSV glycoproteins (gB, gC, gD, gE) from unwanted proteins.
• Immunization with Empigen-extracted antigens elicited high levels of HSV-specific antibodies detected by ELISA.
• Vaccination provided significant protection against both HSV-1 and HSV-2 challenge infections in mice.
• Empigen-extracted antigens showed superior immunogenicity and protective efficacy compared to those extracted with Nonidet P40 or Triton-X-100.

Conclusions:

• Empigen BB is a valuable detergent for preparing HSV surface antigen preparations.
• These Empigen-extracted antigens demonstrate potential as effective vaccine candidates against HSV infections.
• The use of Empigen BB may offer an improved strategy for developing HSV vaccines.