Pentameric complex of viral glycoprotein H is the primary target for potent neutralization by a human cytomegalovirus vaccine
Abstract
Congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is an important cause of newborn disability, and developing a vaccine against congenital HCMV is a top priority. However, despite decades of efforts, a vaccine remains elusive. Previous vaccines lacked an antigen called pentameric glycoprotein H (gH) complex, essential for the virus to infect epithelial/endothelial cells, and these vaccines induced poor neutralizing antibodies. To support a unique vaccine concept featuring the pentameric gH complex, we established 45 mAbs from a rabbit immunized with an experimental vaccine. Over 50% of the mAbs have antiviral activity, and potent clones target the pentameric gH complex, thus establishing this antigen as the key for potent antiviral antibodies by vaccination. Our result contributes to the understanding of immune attributes of an effective vaccine against HCMV.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- December 2013
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.1316517110
- Bibcode:
- 2013PNAS..110E4997F