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Updated: Jun 25, 2025

Production of E. coli-expressed Self-Assembling Protein Nanoparticles for Vaccines Requiring Trimeric Epitope Presentation
Published on: August 21, 2019
Vaccination with nanoparticles displaying gH/gL from Epstein-Barr virus elicits limited cross-protection against
Kristina R Edwards1, Karina Schmidt2, Leah J Homad2
1Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Abstract:
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with infectious mononucleosis, cancer, and multiple sclerosis. A vaccine that prevents infection and/or EBV-associated morbidity is an unmet need. The viral gH/gL glycoprotein complex is essential for infectivity, making it an attractive vaccine target. Here, we evaluate the immunogenicity of a gH/gL nanoparticle vaccine adjuvanted with the Sigma Adjuvant System (SAS) or a saponin/monophosphoryl lipid A nanoparticle (SMNP) in rhesus macaques. Formulation with SMNP elicits higher titers of neutralizing antibodies and more vaccine-specific CD4+ T cells. All but one animal in the SMNP group were infected after oral challenge with the EBV ortholog rhesus lymphocryptovirus (rhLCV). Their immune plasma had a 10- to 100-fold lower reactivity against rhLCV gH/gL compared to EBV gH/gL. Anti-EBV neutralizing monoclonal antibodies showed reduced binding to rhLCV gH/gL, demonstrating that EBV gH/gL neutralizing epitopes are poorly conserved on rhLCV gH/gL. Prevention of rhLCV infection despite antigenic disparity supports clinical development of gH/gL nanoparticle vaccines against EBV.
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