A systematic approach for the identification of novel, serologically reactive recombinant Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) antigens.
BACKGROUND
Varicella-Zoster virus causes chickenpox upon primary infection and shingles after reactivation. Currently available serological tests to detect VZV-specific antibodies are exclusively based on antigens derived from VZV-infected cells.


RESULTS
We present a systematic approach for the identification of novel, serologically reactive VZV antigens. Therefore, all VZV open reading frames were cloned into a bacterial expression vector and checked for small scale recombinant protein expression. Serum profiling experiments using purified VZV proteins and clinically defined sera in a microarray revealed 5 putative antigens (ORFs 1, 4, 14, 49, and 68). These were rearranged in line format and validated with pre-characterized sera.


CONCLUSIONS
The line assay confirmed the seroreactivity of the identified antigens and revealed its suitability for VZV serodiagnostics comparable to commercially available VZV-ELISA. Recombinant ORF68 (gE) proved to be an antigen for high-confidence determination of VZV serostatus. Furthermore, our data suggest that a serological differentiation between chickenpox and herpes zoster may be possible by analysis of the IgM-portfolio against individual viral antigens.
Vizoso Pinto
Maria G
MG
Max von Pettenkofer-Institute, Virology, Munich, Germany.
Pfrepper
Klaus-Ingmar
KI
Janke
Tobias
T
Noelting
Christina
C
Sander
Michaela
M
Lueking
Angelika
A
Haas
Juergen
J
Nitschko
Hans
H
Jaeger
Gundula
G
Baiker
Armin
A
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D046228:Microarray Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D014764:Viral Proteins