Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1)

Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) is a highly contagious respiratory pathogen that is easily spread via horse to horse contact. In mild cases, EHV-1 contraction causes fever, nasal discharge, and lethargy. However, in severe cases, EHV-1 can cause neurological symptoms, and sudden death. The neurologic version of EHV-1 has shown increasing morbidity and mortality in the documented outbreaks since the early 2000s, and appears to be altering its virulence and behavior over time. Thus, the USDA has designated neuropathic EHV-1 as a potentially emerging disease, presenting a serious health risk for horses globally. Unfortunately, existing EHV-1 vaccines do not induce a strong memory response, and therefore require regular boosters to supplement their effects. In addition, there is not an adequate vaccine available for young horses to protect them from the virus early in life. The Wagner lab uses the EHV-1-naïve Icelandic horse model to develop a vaccine that induces longer lasting immune memory, and provide protection in younger foals.

The ORF2 gene is a virulence factor of the Ab4 EHV-1 strain.
The ORF2 gene (open reading frame 2) of the EHV-1 strain Ab4 is a virulence factor that contributes to fever and viral shedding but does not affect viremia or adaptive host immunity against the virus.
Schnabel, et al (2018) BMC Vet. Research

References

  1. Viral infection and allergy - What equine immune responses can tell us about disease severity and protection

    Larson EM, Wagner B

    Mol Immunol. 2021 Jul;135:329-341. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2021.04.013. Epub 2021 May 8.

  2. An Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 (EHV-1) Ab4 Open Reading Frame 2 Deletion Mutant Provides Immunity and Protection from EHV-1 Infection and Disease

    Schnabel CL, Babasyan S, Rollins A, Freer H, Wimer CL, Perkins GA, Raza F, Osterrieder N, Wagner B

    J Virol. 2019 Oct 29;93(22):e01011-19. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01011-19.

  3. Intranasal IgG4/7 antibody responses protect horses against equid herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) infection including nasal virus shedding and cell-associated viremia

    Perkins G, Babasyan S, Stout AE, Freer H, Rollins A, Wimer CL, Wagner B

    Virology. 2019 May;531:219-232. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2019.03.014. Epub 2019 Mar 22.

  4. The deletion of the ORF1 and ORF71 genes reduces virulence of the neuropathogenic EHV-1 strain Ab4 without compromising host immunity in horses

    Wimer CL, Schnabel CL, Perkins G, Babasyan S, Freer H, Stout AE, Rollins A, Osterrieder N, Goodman LB, Glaser A, Wagner B

    PLoS One. 2018 Nov 15;13(11):e0206679. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206679.

  5. Deletion of the ORF2 gene of the neuropathogenic equine herpesvirus type 1 strain Ab4 reduces virulence while maintaining strong immunogenicity

    Schnabel CL, Wimer CL, Perkins G, Babasyan S, Freer H, Watts C, Rollins A, Osterrieder N, Wagner B

    BMC Vet Res. 2018 Aug 22;14(1):245. doi: 10.1186/s12917-018-1563-4.

  6. Neonatal Immunization with a Single IL-4/Antigen Dose Induces Increased Antibody Responses after Challenge Infection with Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 (EHV-1) at Weanling Age

    Wagner B, Perkins G, Babasyan S, Freer H, Keggan A, Goodman LB, Glaser A, Torsteinsdóttir S, Svansson V, Björnsdóttir S

    PLoS One. 2017 Jan 3;12(1):e0169072. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169072.

  7. Maternal T-lymphocytes in equine colostrum express a primarily inflammatory phenotype

    Perkins GA, Goodman LB, Wimer C, Freer H, Babasyan S, Wagner B

    Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2014 Oct 15;161(3-4):141-50. doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2014.07.009. Epub 2014 Aug 2.

  8. Immunological correlates of vaccination and infection for equine herpesvirus 1

    Goodman LB, Wimer C, Dubovi EJ, Gold C, Wagner B

    Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2012 Feb;19(2):235-41. doi: 10.1128/CVI.05522-11. Epub 2011 Dec 28.

  9. Infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with neuropathogenic equine herpesvirus type-1 strain Ab4 reveals intact interferon-α induction and induces suppression of anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 responses in comparison to other viral strains

    Wagner B, Wimer C, Freer H, Osterrieder N, Erb HN

    Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2011 Sep 15;143(1-2):116-24. doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2011.06.032. Epub 2011 Jun 28.

  10. Equine herpesvirus type-1 modulates CCL2, CCL3, CCL5, CXCL9, and CXCL10 chemokine expression

    Wimer CL, Damiani A, Osterrieder N, Wagner B

    Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2011 Apr 15;140(3-4):266-74. doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2011.01.009. Epub 2011 Jan 26.

  11. Live-attenuated recombinant equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) induces a neutralizing antibody response against West Nile virus (WNV)

    Rosas CT, Tischer BK, Perkins GA, Wagner B, Goodman LB, Osterrieder N

    Virus Res. 2007 Apr;125(1):69-78. Epub 2007 Jan 22.

  12. Comparison of the efficacy of inactivated combination and modified-live virus vaccines against challenge infection with neuropathogenic equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1)

    Goodman LB, Wagner B, Flaminio MJ, Sussman KH, Metzger SM, Holland R, Osterrieder N

    Vaccine. 2006 Apr 24;24(17):3636-45. Epub 2006 Feb 13.