The long-term objective of this project is the development of an effective vaccine against human cytomegalovirus (CMV). To accomplish this, experimental formulations containing a unique and safe purified saponin adjuvant will be compared to control preparations in saline, in Freund's complete adjuvant, and in aluminum hydroxide. The model antigens will be the major CMV surface glycoproteins, gp55-116 and gp86, expressed in and purified from baculovirus-infected insect cells. Assays for humoral responses will include total antigen-specific antibody response, viral neutralizing antibodies, isotyping of antibodies, and antigenic repertoire of antibodies (carried out by binding studies of beta-galactosidase fusion proteins containing known epitopes and Western blot on peptide fragments of the antigens). Assays for cell-mediated responses will include l -lymphocyte proliferation (measured via 3H-thymidine incorporation as well as IL-3 production after stimulation with antigen or virus).Awardee's statement of the potential commercial applications of the research:In the U. S., approximately 50% of women of child-bearing age are seronegative for HCMV, placing them at risk for virus acquisition during pregnancy and subsequent fetal damage. Thus the number of candidate women for such a vaccine is sizeable even if usage was confined only to the U. S.. In addition, vaccination in the pretransplant period may provide some measure of protection. This represents a second significant population of individuals in the developed world. Currently, there is no HCMV vaccine available in this population.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
