Detection of varicella-zoster virus DNA by field-inversion gel electrophoresis.
A new method for detection of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) DNA using field-inversion gel electrophoresis (FIGE) was devised. VZV-genomic DNA could be differentiated from the host cell DNA of human embryonic lung (HEL) fibroblasts infected with VZV under electrophoretic conditions allowing resolution of linear and double-stranded DNAs in the 49-230 kilobase pairs (Kb) range. The detection of VZV-genomic DNA from infected HEL cells was successful regardless of whether the VZV was a laboratory strain, live vaccine strain, or fresh isolate. Under the same electrophoretic conditions, DNA of VZV-infected HEL cells could be clearly differentiated from DNA obtained from HEL cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), type 2 (HSV-2), or human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Furthermore, VZV genomic DNA could be detected from as small a sample as 1.9 x 10(4) VZV-infected HEL cells. Finally, we could detect VZV genomic DNA from 10 samples of vesicle tissue (blister lids, each about 1-4 mm2) and one sample of vesicle fluid (about 5 microliters) obtained from patients diagnosed as having herpes-zoster. The results of this study indicate that FIGE is a simple and promising method for the detection of VZV from clinical materials as well as infected in vitro cultured cells.
Arao
Y
Y
Department of Virology, Okayama University Medical School.
Yoshida
M
M
Bai
Z L
ZL
Kori
Y
Y
Nakatsukasa
A
A
Takei
Y
Y
Aoji
K
K
Yamada
M
M
Uno
F
F
Miyoshi
K
K
D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D004586:Electrophoresis / Q000379:methods*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D004279:DNA, Viral