Immunogenicity and cellular response of a herpes zoster virus gEgI fusion protein adjuvanted with CpG-emulsion in mice.

ABSTRACT: Herpes zoster (HZ), commonly known as shingles, arises from the reactivation of the latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV) when VZV-specific cellular immunity declines below a critical threshold necessary for viral suppression. The current leading vaccine, Shingrix, which incorporates the adjuvant AS01_B with glycoprotein E (gE), has significantly contributed to HZ prevention but raises concerns regarding safety and accessibility. Addressing the need for safer and more accessible HZ vaccinations, we developed a vaccine comprising a fusion protein of glycoprotein E and I (gEgI), connected via a linker, targeting abundant B cell and CD4 T cell epitopes. Our study assessed the immunogenicity of the gE alone and the gEgI fusion protein in adult mice, revealing that gEgI prompts a more p

SUBMITTER: Zhang S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12124028 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature