Detection of Antibody to Cytomegalovirus Early Antigen in Vaccinated, Normal Volunteers and Renal Transplant Candidates

Abstract

Antibody to cytomegalovirus early antigen (CMV-EA) has been demonstrated in acute CMV infection. Other investigators have suggested that antibody to CMV-EA would distinguish acute CMV infection from past infection and could therefore be diagnostically useful. Antibody to CMV-EA has been demonstrated in reactivated CMV infection, in infants with congenital infection, and in pregnant women. Antibody to CMV-EA was studied in renal transplant candidates receiving Towne strain CMV vaccine, healthy adults receiving vaccine, and in asymptomatic, seropositive adults. Most healthy volunteers and renal transplant candidates receiving vaccine developed antibody to CMV-EA; it persisted in some of these adults many months after immunization. Antibody to CMV-EA was also demonstrated in asymptomatic adults with serologic evidence of a past infection. Antibody to CMV-EA is not solely an acute-phase reactant but, at least in some patients, is present in the absence of viral excretion or clinical disease.

Detection of immunoglobulin M and G antibodies against cytomegalovirus early and late antigens by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

“…The presence of high levels of anti-CMV-EA antibodies may be a reflection of active virus replication in the host as indicated in previous studies (10,23,28,32) and in studies on vaccination with attenuated CMV (9).…”

“…Our present data failed to show a distinct relationship between the level of anti-CMV-EA antibodies and virus excretion. Additionally, antibodies against CMV-EA were frequently detectable in normal CMV-seropositive individuals (9,28).…”

Evidence that Human Cytomegalovirus Assembly Protein Shares Antigenic Sites with an Uninfected Cell Membrane Protein

“…IgG determination, sera were tested using a nuclear antigen obtained by glycine extraction of infected and uninfected nuclei prepared as described (Friedman et al, 1982).…”

Class‐specific antibody responses to early and late antigens of varicella and herpes simplex viruses

“…Results of some studies have indicated that antibody responses to the early antigens of Epstein-Barr virus and human cytomegalovirus are of short duration, and that the presence of antibodies to these antigens is suggestive of active infections with the viruses Henle et al, 1971;The et al, 19741. However, more recent studies have cast doubt upon the diagnostic significance that can be attached to the presence of antibodies to early antigens of these viruses, since such antibodies have been demonstrated in individuals without evidence of active viral infections [Farber et al, 1979;Favart et al, 1978;Friedman et al, 1982;Gerna et al, 1979;Gotlieb-Stematsky et al, 1978;Griffiths et al, 1980;Kurstak et al, 19781. One study has been reported in which antibodies to early antigens of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) were demonstrable only in varicella or herpes zoster infections, and were considered to be markers of current VZV infection [Gerna et al, 19791.…”

“…Results of some studies have indicated that antibody responses to the early antigens of Epstein-Barr virus and human cytomegalovirus are of short duration, and that the presence of antibodies to these antigens is suggestive of active infections with the viruses Henle et al, 1971;The et al, 19741. However, more recent studies have cast doubt upon the diagnostic significance that can be attached to the presence of antibodies to early antigens of these viruses, since such antibodies have been demonstrated in individuals without evidence of active viral infections [Farber et al, 1979;Favart et al, 1978;Friedman et al, 1982;Gerna et al, 1979;Gotlieb-Stematsky et al, 1978;Griffiths et al, 1980;Kurstak et al, 19781. One study has been reported in which antibodies to early antigens of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) were demonstrable only in varicella or herpes zoster infections, and were considered to be markers of current VZV infection [Gerna et al, 19791. The present investigation on antibody responses to early antigens of VZV and herpes simplex virus (HSV) was undertaken with the following aims: (1) to explore further antibody responses to early antigens of VZV and HSV in primary, reactivated, and latent infections in efforts to determine the diagnostic significance that should be attached to these antibody responses, (2) to determine whether the serodifferentiation of VZV and HSV infections might be improved through the use of early antigen preparations, (3) to determine whether early antigens produced with different blocking agents might differ in their serological reactivity, and (4) to study the reactivity of class-specific viral antibodies with early antigens of VZV and HSV.…”