The fact that protein bands and MW markers shift in both x- and y-coordinates makes it difficult to visually compare blots with any confidence that trends observed (or missed) are unaffected by the human observer

The fact that protein bands and MW markers shift in both x- and y-coordinates makes it difficult to visually compare blots with any confidence that trends observed (or missed) are unaffected by the human observer. were derived from HSV-2s thirteen glycoproteins. Collectively, the results suggest the immune response to the live HSV-2 0NLS vaccine includes antibodies specific for infected cell proteins, capsid proteins, tegument proteins, and glycoproteins. This increased breadth of antibody-generating proteins may contribute to the live HSV-2 vaccines capacity to elicit superior protection against genital herpes relative to a gD subunit vaccine. Introduction Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) infects more than 530 million people worldwide between the ages of 14 and 49 [1, 2], and >20 million individuals live with genital herpes disease that recurs more than once a year. Wild-type HSV-2 may cause severe infections in neonates [3, 4], and HSV-2-infected individuals are placed at ~3-fold higher risk for acquiring human GO6983 immunodeficiency virus [5]. Hence, it is widely agreed that an effective HSV-2 vaccine is an important and unmet medical need. Glycoprotein subunit vaccines represent the most widely studied approach to develop a safe Acvrl1 and effective HSV-2 vaccine. Six clinical trials of HSV-2 glycoprotein D (gD-2) and/or glycoprotein B (gB-2) subunit vaccines have been conducted over the past 25 years, but have failed to prevent or reduce the symptoms of HSV-2 genital herpes [6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]. Our laboratory has investigated the potential of a live HSV-2 equals the percentage (%) of an infectious agents proteome included in a vaccine, then the live HSV-2 0NLS vaccine retains 99.3% of HSV-2s antigenic breadth. This ~100-fold increase in antigenic breadth relative to gD-2 vaccines may contribute to the HSV-2 0NLS vaccines capacity to elicit an ~400-fold reduction in HSV-2 vaginal shedding post-challenge relative GO6983 to na?ve controls. In contrast, gD-2-immunized animals shed ~4-fold less HSV-2 after challenge relative to na?ve controls [17]. Mice and guinea pigs immunized with the live HSV-2 0NLS vaccine generate ~40-fold higher levels of pan-HSV-2 IgG and ~20-fold higher levels GO6983 of HSV-2-neutralizing antibody relative to animals immunized with a gD-2 vaccine [16, 17]. Just because HSV-2 0NLS-immunized animals have high levels of HSV-2-specific antibody does not mean these antibodies contribute to protective immunity to HSV-2. Therefore, it is relevant to note that serum levels of pan-HSV-2 IgG antibody directly correlate with vaccine-induced protection against HSV-2 [16]. Moreover, na?ve animals that receive an adoptive transfer of HSV-2 0NLS antiserum possess significant (albeit incomplete) protection against HSV-2 challenge (Fig. 5 in Ref. [16]). Finally, our unpublished studies demonstrate that the live HSV-2 0NLS vaccine elicits a robust virus-specific T-cell response in B-cell-deficient MT mice, but 0NLS-vaccinated MT mice fail to effectively control HSV-2 vaginal challenge in the absence of virus-specific antibodies (unpublished data of W.P. Halford and K.J. Hasenkrug). Open in a separate window Figure 5 Immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry (IP-mass spec) analysis as a tool to screen antibody specificities in HSV-2 0NLS antiserum. (A-B) IP-mass spec experiment #1. Uninfected Vero cell proteins (UI Ag) or HSV-2 MS-infected cell proteins (HSV-2 Ag) were resuspended in a NP40-based buffer containing 150 mM NaCl and were incubated with 2% na?ve mouse serum or 2% mouse 0NLS-antiserum for 2 hours followed by overnight incubation with Protein A/G agarose beads. (A) Coomassie-blue stained polyacrylamide gel of immunoprecipitates formed by HSV-2 Ag + mouse 0NLS antiserum versus three negative-control immunoprecipitation reactions. Black arrows denote three protein species pulled down by 0NLS antiserum that were not present in controls. (B) Identity of proteins excised from the gel (panel A), as determined by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. (C-D). IP-mass spec experiment #2. (C) Coomassie-blue stained polyacrylamide gel of immunoprecipitates formed by HSV-2 MS-infected cell proteins (HSV-2 Ag) following incubation with 1% mouse 0NLS-antiserum and Protein A/G agarose beads. The entire lane of the gel was analyzed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry after being cut into 18 equivalent sized slices (denoted by boxes.