Detection of herpes simplex virus type 2-specific antibody with glycoprotein G

J Clin Microbiol. 1985 Oct;22(4):641-4. doi: 10.1128/jcm.22.4.641-644.1985.

Abstract

A recently described herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2 (HSV-2)-specific glycoprotein (gG-2) was purified on an immunoaffinity column prepared with monoclonal antibody. This purified antigen was used in an immunodot enzymatic assay on nitrocellulose paper for the detection of HSV-2 antibodies in human serum. The test was very sensitive in that HSV-2 antibodies were detected in the convalescent sera of 132 of 134 patients with recurrent genital infections in which HSV-2 had been isolated earlier. Antibodies to gG-2 were detected in 17% of sera obtained within 10 days after the onset of a primary HSV infection and in 95% of sera obtained more than 10 days after onset. The specificity of the immunodot assay was demonstrated by testing sera from 245 HSV-seronegative adults, 344 children, 29 nuns, and 13 patients with primary genital HSV-1 infections. None of these 631 sera was reactive with the gG-2 antigen. When compared with a microneutralization test, the immunodot assay was found to be more specific in detecting HSV-2 antibodies. Reproducibility of the gG-2 assay, obtained by retesting 391 sera, was 95%. Thus, this assay has the sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility necessary for the measurement of HSV-2 antibodies in seroepidemiological studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Viral / analysis*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross Reactions
  • Female
  • Herpes Genitalis / immunology*
  • Herpes Simplex / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Infant
  • Keratitis, Dendritic / immunology
  • Male
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Rabbits
  • Recurrence
  • Simplexvirus / immunology*
  • Viral Envelope Proteins*
  • Viral Proteins / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • Viral Proteins
  • glycoprotein G, herpes simplex virus type 2