title: Antigenicity of a candidate varicella-zoster virus glycoprotein subunit vaccine.
abstract: A 1642 bp DNA fragment, encoding the N-terminal region and 511 amino acid residues of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) glI gene, was inserted into vaccinia virus genome. The expression of recombinant vaccinia virus (designated VVTgpI-511) yielded the synthesis of a 60 kDa protein species which was processed to a secretory 76 kDa polypeptide (designated TgpI-511). The antigenicity of this protein was examined by subcutaneous inoculation of one rabbit with 100 micrograms purified TgpI-511 in the Ribi adjuvant system. The animal was boosted 3 weeks after the initial inoculation and antisera were tested 7 days after the last injection by immunoprecipitation and neutralization tests. The results showed that rabbit antibodies to TgpI-511 (RAnti-TgpI-511) were reactive with purified TgpI-511 as well as native gpI in VZV-infected cells. In addition, TgpI-511 was capable of eliciting complement-dependent VZV neutralizing antibodies. These results suggested that the purified preparation of TgpI-511 may have the potential to be used as a candidate VZV subunit vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois, College of Medicine, Rockford 61107-1897.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vafai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011817:Rabbits; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D014616:Vaccinia virus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine; D004279:DNA, Viral; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines; C056913:glycoprotein E, varicella-zoster virus