Recombinant varicella-zoster virus glycoproteins E and I: immunologic responses and clearance of virus in a guinea pig model of chronic uveitis.

Guinea pigs immunized with recombinant varicella-zoster virus (VZV) glycoproteins E (gE) and I (gI) developed antigen-specific antibodies in the sera, vitreous, and conjunctival washes. Sera from immunized animals neutralized both cell-free and cell-associated VZV, and peripheral blood lymphocytes proliferated in vitro in response to recombinant gE and gI and to antigens from VZV-infected cells. Immunized guinea pigs were inoculated intravitreally with VZV, which induces chronic uveitis. VZV DNA was more rapidly cleared and infectious VZV was isolated less frequently from the retinas of animals immunized with gE and gI compared with that in controls receiving adjuvant alone. Nonetheless, cellular infiltrates in the vitreous, retina, and choroid were prevalent 21 days after VZV inoculation in both the adjuvant-alone- and gE-gI-immunized animals. Immunization with VZV gE and gI induced potent humoral and cellular responses that accelerated the clearance of VZV DNA and may neutralize virus within the eye.