The envelope proteins of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) are highly immunogenic and one of the most abundant is glycoprotein E (gE). However, its immunodominant regions and epitopes have not been identified. In this study, using human sera from individuals with recent varicella or zoster infections, we have localized antigenic sequences of gE using recombinant hybrid Ty-virus-like particles (VLPs) carrying overlapping fragments of the gE protein. gE(1-134)-VLPs (particles carrying amino acids 1-134 of gE) and, to a lesser extent, gE(101-161)-VLPs were found to be the most antigenic when tested by Western blotting and ELISA. Other fragments of gE (spanning residues 161-623) showed weak or no antigenicity. Pepscan analysis of human sera on overlapping synthetic peptides representing residues 1-135 of gE revealed that the most antigenic region was between residues 50 and 135. Three immunodominant sequences (residues 86-105, 116-135, and, to a lesser extent, 56-75) were detected using sera from both varicella and zoster patients. All sera from varicella, but not zoster, patients reacted strongly with an epitope in peptide 66-85. Other epitopes were recognized weakly by some varicella or zoster sera. More sera need to be tested to assess the potential disease specificity of these epitopes. The neutralizing monoclonal antibody (MAb) IF-B9 reacted with residues 71-90; however, another neutralizing MAb, SG1A, which bound to both gE(1-134)-VLPs and gE(101-161)-VLPs did not bind to any peptide. The identification of immunodominant sequences of gE will help toward the development of a subunit VZV vaccine.

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Herpesviruses produce assembly proteins (AP) that act as scaffolding proteins for the assembly of the viral capsids. The products of the assemblin gene, which encodes both maturational protease and AP, have been established for herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and human cytomegalovirus (CMV). We cloned an inframe ORF (encoding amino acids 304-605), found within the ORF 33 assemblin gene of VZV, into a yeast expression vector. The 34-kDa AP was expressed as a fusion protein with the particle-forming Ty p1 protein, resulting in high-level production of hybrid AP-virus-like particles (AP-VLPs). When AP-VLPs were injected into mice and rabbits, antibodies were produced that reacted with, but that did not neutralise, native VZV. Three of four inbred strains of mice immunised with AP-VLPs produced a VZV-specific T-cell response. The mouse and rabbit sera reacted with six bands on native VZV by Western blot analysis. The dominant bands were found at 34 and 38 kDa. Bands were also seen at 66, 63, 41, and 31 kDa. The 38-kDa protein may represent the mature AP derived from the 41-kDa precursor AP, itself the release product from the full-length 66-kDa assemblin. The 34-kDa protein probably represents the product of the inframe co-translational gene within ORF 33 encoding amino acids 304-605. The genetic organisation and proteolytic maturation of VZV assemblin are, therefore, analogous to those of other herpesviruses.

Yeast Ty virus-like particles (VLPs) containing viral protein inserts have previously been shown to be potent immunogens, inducing both humoral and cell mediated immunity (CMI). The antigenicity of hybrid VLPs containing fragments of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) gE protein or the assembly protein (AP) was assessed by lymphocyte proliferation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with a recent natural VZV infection were stimulated in vitro with VZV-VLPs together with control antigens. PBMC samples from both varicella (85%) and zoster (75%) patients proliferated in responses to at least one of the gE VZV-VLPs. As reported for the first time, VZV specific lymphocyte responses were also identified towards the VZV AP in two varicella and two zoster patient samples. The results demonstrate specific CMI recognition of the VZV gE fragments tested and the VZV AP delivered in the form of recombinant Ty-VLPs, and highlights their potential use as a recombinant antigen delivery system for vaccination.

Yeast Ty virus-like particles (VLPs) containing viral protein inserts have previously been shown to be potent immunogens, inducing both humoral and cell mediated immunity (CMI). The antigenicity of hybrid VLPs containing fragments of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) gE protein or the assembly protein (AP) was assessed by lymphocyte proliferation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with a recent natural VZV infection were stimulated in vitro with VZV-VLPs together with control antigens. PBMC samples from both varicella (85%) and zoster (75%) patients proliferated in responses to at least one of the gE VZV-VLPs. As reported for the first time, VZV specific lymphocyte responses were also identified towards the VZV AP in two varicella and two zoster patient samples. The results demonstrate specific CMI recognition of the VZV gE fragments tested and the VZV AP delivered in the form of recombinant Ty-VLPs, and highlights their potential use as a recombinant antigen delivery system for vaccination.