Characterization of neutralizing epitopes of varicella-zoster virus glycoprotein H

J Virol. 2009 Feb;83(4):2020-4. doi: 10.1128/JVI.02097-08. Epub 2008 Dec 10.

Abstract

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) glycoprotein H (gH) is the major neutralization target of VZV, and its neutralizing epitope is conformational. Ten neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies to gH were used to map the epitopes by immunohistochemical analysis and were categorized into seven epitope groups. The combinational neutralization efficacy of two epitope groups was not synergistic. Each epitope was partially or completely resistant to concanavalin A blocking of the glycomoiety of gH, and their antibodies inhibited the cell-to-cell spread of infection. The neutralization epitope comprised at least seven independent protein portions of gH that served as the target to inhibit cell-to-cell spread.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Epitope Mapping*
  • Epitopes / immunology*
  • Herpesvirus 3, Human / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / immunology*
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Viral Proteins / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Epitopes
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Viral Proteins
  • gp 118 protein, Herpesvirus 3, Human