Immunogenicity of herpes simplex virus glycoproteins gC and gB and their role in protective immunity.

The relative antigenicity of the individual herpes simplex virus type 1 (KOS) glycoproteins gC and gB was analyzed in BALB/c mice by using KOS mutants altered in their ability to present these antigens on cell surface membranes during infection. The mutants employed were as follows: syn LD70 , a non-temperature-sensitive mutant defective in the synthesis of cell surface membrane gC; tsF13 , a temperature-sensitive mutant defective in the processing of the precursor form of gB to the mature cell surface form at 39 degrees C; and ts606 , an immediate early temperature-sensitive mutant defective in the production of all early and late proteins including the glycoproteins. By comparing the relative susceptibility to immunolysis of mouse 3T3 cells infected at 39 degrees C with wild-type virus, presenting the full complement of the glycoprotein antigens, gC, gB, and gD, with target cells infected with mutants presenting only subsets of these antigens, we determined that a major portion of cytolytic antibody contained in hyperimmune anti-herpes simplex virus type 1 (KOS) mouse antiserum was directed against glycoproteins gC and gB. The relative immunogenicity of wild-type and mutant virus-infected cells also was compared in BALB/c mice. Immunogen lacking the mature form of gB induced a cytolytic antibody titer comparable to that of the wild-type virus, whereas that lacking the mature form of gC showed a 70% reduction in titer. The absence of the mature cell surface forms of gB and gC in immunogen preparations resulted in a 4- to 15-fold reduction in in virus neutralizing titer. Animals immunized with ts606 -infected cells (39 degrees C) induced relatively little virus-specific cytolytic and neutralizing antibody. Analysis of the glycoprotein specificities of these antisera by radioimmunoprecipitation showed that the antigens immunoprecipitated reflected the viral plasma membrane glycoprotein profiles of the immunogens. The absence of the mature forms of gC or gB in the immunizing preparation did not appreciably affect the immunoprecipitating antibody response to other antigens. Mice immunized with wild-type and mutant virus-infected cells were tested for their resistance to intracranial and intraperitoneal challenge with the highly virulent WAL strain of herpes simplex virus type 1. Despite the observed alterations in serum virus-specific antibody induced with the individual immunogens, all animals survived an intraperitoneal challenge of 10 50% lethal doses. However, differences in the survival of animals were obtained upon intracranial challenge.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)