Comparative Analyses of the 9 Glycoprotein Genes Found in Wild‐Type and Vaccine Strains of Varicella‐Zoster Virus

Abstract

The complete DNA sequences of wild-type and vaccine strains of varicella-zoster virus have been published and listed in GenBank. In this comparative genomic analysis, the sequences of the 9 glycoprotein open reading frames (ORFs) were compared. They included gE (ORF68), gI (ORF 67), gC (ORF14), gH (ORF37), gL (ORF60), gB (ORF31), gK (ORF5), gM (ORF50), and gN (ORF8 or ORF9A). After realignment on the basis of newer data, the corrected gB sequence was lengthened to include 931 residues. The data showed that there were glycoprotein polymorphisms that differentiated North American/European strains from Japanese strains-for example, an additional ATG codon in the gL of all Oka strains. Also, there were a small number of coding single-nucleotide polymorphisms present only in glycoproteins of vaccine strains. Because these changes were highly conserved, the structure of the glycoprotein was unlikely to be altered.

Genome-wide reduction in transcriptomal profiles of varicella-zoster virus vaccine strains compared with Parental Oka strain using long oligonucleotide microarrays

“…Diminished expression of gC has been proposed as a factor related to vaccine attenuation, but it has been shown that only a single synonymous change is present in ORF14 in the vaccine 6). Our finding of downregulation of gC is consistent with that found by Kinchington et al [14] and Storlie et al [15]. gC is not necessary for replication and has variable synthesis in tissue culture, but since all three viruses had equal passages in MeWo cells is it very unlikely that the differences seen in this study are due to tissue culture passage.…”

Seroprevalence rate after one dose of varicella vaccine in infants

“…20,21 The memory immune reaction, after a natural varicella, persists at a certain level of immunity protecting against VZV reinfection. Several assays have been developed to evaluate immune responses to VZV infection.…”

Complete DNA Sequences of Two Oka Strain Varicella-Zoster Virus Genomes

“…It is known that VZV glycoproteins induce a strong humoral immune response following either natural infection or vaccination with the Oka strain. The SNPs in the nine VZV glycoproteins were reviewed in a recent comparative analysis (64). Some of them are specific to the vaccine strains and thus could be involved in VZV attenuation.…”