Stability of a varicella-zoster virus glycoprotein E epitope

The epitope stability of a varicella-zoster virus (VZV) glycoprotein E (gE) was analyzed with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in cells infected with diff erent passages of various VZV strains and isolates. The gE-specific mAbs re cognized same antigenic sites (epitopes) in VZV isolates with various passa ge history. All VZV strains and virus-isolates reacted with an anti-gE mono clonal antibody by immunoprecipitation, or indirect fluorescent antibody st aining test. Sera from VZV seropositive individuals reacted with a truncate d VZV gE glycoprotein, designated TgpI-511. Also, human mononuclear cells ( MNCs) stimulated with TgpI-511 glycoprotein were shown to produce VZV-speci fic antibodies in vitro. The results demonstrated the stability of these gE epitopes tested in this study in TgpI-511 and among the VZV-isolates obtai ned from different passages. These results also suggest that VZV glycoprote ins as well as live attenuated or killed varicella vaccines containing thes e epitopes could be used as therapeutic booster vaccines in adults and the elderly to prevent tester.