Expression of Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1,2A and 2B in the baculovirus expression system: serological evaluation of human antibodies to these proteins.
The Epstein-Barr virus encoded nuclear antigens 1,2A, and 2B (EBNA 1, EBNA 2A, and EBNA 2B) were expressed in a baculovirus system. The full length recombinant proteins were recognized by polyclonal rabbit sera and by human sera. An immunofluorescence (IF) test for the differentiation between EBNA 1 and EBNA 2 antibodies in human sera was established with the expressed proteins. None of 55 sera of patients with infectious mononucleosis (IM) had anti-EBNA 1 antibodies while 36 of these sera had anti-EBNA 2A antibodies. Conversely, 47 of 51 sera from EBV-positive healthy carriers had anti-EBNA 1 antibodies and 18 of these sera had anti-EBNA 2A antibodies. The sensitivity and specificity of the EBNA 1 IF for the diagnosis of IM were higher as compared to conventional anti-complement immunofluorescence (ACIF). In the IF test differentiation between type A and type B EBV infection was only possible in sera from the IM patients. An immunoblot (IB) with low amounts of baculovirus expressed EBNA 2A and EBNA 2B antigen was carried out. Twenty-nine of 31 sera from IM patients or from healthy carriers with EBNA 2 antibodies reacted predominantly with EBNA 2A, whereas a known type B serum reacted strongly with EBNA 2B than with EBNA 2A.
Abteilung Virologie, Universitätskliniken, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
A
A
Hille
K
K
Klein
S
S
Bäumler
F A
FA
Grässer
N
N
Mueller-Lantzsch
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D016367:Baculoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015870:Gene Expression; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens