Identification of an Epstein-Barr virus glycoprotein which is antigenically homologous to the varicella-zoster virus glycoprotein II and the herpes simplex virus glycoprotein B.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antigenic homologue of the varicella-zoster virus glycoprotein II and the herpes simplex virus (HSV) glycoprotein B (gB) was identified through cross-reactivity with anti-glycoprotein II and anti-glycoprotein B peptide sera. The homologue is the previously characterized EBV glycoprotein, with an apparent molecular weight of 125,000 Da, which is synthesized late during productive EBV infection and appears to be encoded by the BamHI A EBV fragment. This glycoprotein, but not other EBV proteins, reacted with the antisera in immunoprecipitation experiments and by ELISA. In addition, absorption of the sera with the purified EBV 125-kDa glycoprotein removed the cross-reacting antibody. Whether the EBV gB homologue has the same biological functions associated with HSV gB has yet to be determined.