Expression of the simian varicella virus glycoprotein E

Simian varicella virus (SVV) is closely related to human varicella-zoster v irus (VZV) and induces a varicella-like disease in nonhuman primates. The S VV genome encodes a glycoprotein E (gE) which is homologous to the gE of VZ V and other alphaherpesviruses. The SVV gE was expressed in Escherichia col i and rabbits were immunized with the recombinant gE fusion proteins to gen erate polyclonal gE antiserum. Immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation a nalyses demonstrated that the SVV gE is expressed on the surface and within SV-V-infected cells. The gE is also expressed on SVV virions as indicated by ser-uni neutralization assay. The mature SV-V gE is glycosylated and is similar in size (similar to 100 kd) to the mature VZV gE. Immunohistochemic al analysis detected gE within skin vesicles and lung tissue of SVV-infecte d monkeys. Analysis of the humoral immune response to gE in an SVV-infected monkey determined that anti-gE antibody is induced as early as day 9 posti nfection and persists at high titer for longer than 4 months. The simian va ricella model offers an opportunity to investigate the role of gE in viral pathogenesis and immunity and to evaluate its potential as a varicella vacc ine. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.