A systematic approach for the identification of novel, serologically reactive recombinant Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) antigens

作者：Pinto Maria G Vizoso; Pfrepper Klaus Ingmar; Janke Tobias; Noelting Christina; Sander Michaela; Lueking Angelika; Haas Juergen; Nitschko Hans; Jaeger Gundula; Baiker Armin^*

来源：Virology Journal, 2010, 7: 165.

DOI：10.1186/1743-422X-7-165

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.

• 出版日期2010-7-20