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

VIZOSO PINTO, M. G.; PFREPPER, K-I.; JANKE, T.; NOELTING, C.; SANDER, M.; LUEKING, A.; HAAS, J.; NITSCHKO, H.; JAEGER, G.; BAIKER, A.

VIROLOGY JOURNAL

BIOMED CENTRAL LTD

Año: 2010 vol. 7 p. 1 - 9

1743-422X

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 scalerecombinant 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.