REACTIVITY OF VARICELLA-ZOSTER VIRUS SUBUNIT ANTIGENS IN ENZYME-LINKED-IMMUNOSORBENT-ASSAY TO SERA FROM VARICELLA, ZOSTER, AND HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS-INFECTIONS

Serological responses to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) subunit antigens , such as capsid, envelope, and soluble (S) antigens, in patients with VZV and herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections were studied by compari ng with responses to virion (V) antigens using an enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA). S antigen, prepared by concentrating supernatan t of VZV or HSV type 1 (HSV-l)-infected cell culture fluid, reacted st rongly to sera from patients with secondary infection but reacted poor ly to those from patients with a primary infection of VZV or HSV. Anti body titers to VZV-S antigen persisted for a long period in patients w ith VZV infections. Patients infected with VZV showed antibody increas e to HSV-1, when tested by complement fixation or complement-enhanced neutralization test, in cases with a history of prior HSV infection. H owever, such a cross-reaction was only observed to a minor extent in E LISA test using S antigen. S antigen reaction was stronger in secondar y infections in tests with various subunit antigens. Almost no cross-r eactivity was observed in an immunoblotting test with S antigen. Diffe rentiation between infections with either varicella or tester or HSV c an be made by comparison of antibody responses to V and S antigens.