Rapid diagnosis of varicella-zoster virus infection by detection of viral deoxythymidine kinase in serum and vesicle fluid

Abstract

A sensitive enzyme assay utilizing [125I]iododeoxyuridine as the substrate and CTP as the phosphate donor in combination with isozyme-specific antisera was used for direct detection and typing of herpesvirus deoxythymidine kinase (dTk) in clinical specimens. An investigation of 16 coded vesicle fluid specimens, taken in connection with varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and herpes simplex virus infections, revealed viral dTk activity in 14 samples. All positive samples except one were taken within 5 days after the onset of illness. Serological typing of the dTk activities easily established whether the vesicles were caused by VZV, herpes simplex virus type 1, or herpes simplex virus type 2. The results were obtainable within 5 h and were in agreement with the results achieved by immunofluorescence tests or by virus isolation when positive. Acute-and convalescent-phase sera from patients with VZV infections were analyzed with regard to dTk isozyme composition. All sera collected within 5 days after the onset of varicella were found to contain elevated levels of dTk activity. By the use of isozyme-specific antisera and gel electrophoresis, it was possible to show the presence of both cellular and VZV dTk's. Among the 13 acute-phase sera from zoster patients, only 2 were found to be VZV dTk positive. Convalescent sera, in most cases collected 15 days or more after the onset of illness, were also found to be devoid of VZV dTk. The relevance of the results and the possible use of these methods for viral diagnostics are discussed.

Antibodies against varicella‐zoster virus and herpes simplex virus deoxythymidine kinase in heterologous infections

“…Sera from persons with recurrent HSV infections were obtained from personnel of the Department of Medical Virology or, in the case of HSV-2 infections, from patients a t the Department of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University Hospital. The type of HSV infection was verified by direct typing of the viral TK present in vesicle fluids [Kallander et al, 1983;Gronowitz et al, 19821. For control purposes, VZV-CF negative single-serum specimens from apparently healthy individuals were provided by the National Bacterological Laboratory, Stockholm. Ten of these specimens were positive in the VZV-IF immunity test and ten were negative.…”

Serum Thymidine Kinase in Vitamin B12Deficiency

“…The assay system utilizes 1251-labelled iododeoxyuridine (IUdR) (lo-' mol/l, 130-160 Ci/mmole) as substrate and 3.9 mmol/l ATP as phosphate donor. The final concentration of components in the assay system are described previously (4). Large scale screening of S-TK was performed in microtiter plates.…”

Serum deoxythymidine kinase correlates with peripheral lymphocyte thymidine uptake in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

“…Both biochemical and immunological analyses of the S-TK isozyme composition in samples from patients with different diseases have been performed. In all instances, except in connection with varicella, where a fraction of S-TK consisted of varicella zoster virus-coded TK, the dominating S-TK isozyrne was indistinguishable from cell cytosolar TK1 (12,4).…”