Detection of Epstein-Barr virus-specific antibodies by means of baculovirus-expressed EBV gp125.

A major antigenic component of the Epstein-Barr virus viral capsid antigen (VCA) complex is the glycoprotein, gp125. Baculovirus-expressed gp125 reacted with Epstein-Barr virus IgG antibodies in a panel of 44 serum specimens using an immunoblot assay with over 97% sensitivity, and 100% specificity as compared to anti-VCA reactivity in an immunofluorescence assay. In addition, no evidence for cross-reactivity was seen in reactions with members of a panel of human serum specimens of known reactivity with each of the other known human herpesviruses. Thus, baculovirus-expressed gp125 should prove a stable platform on which new Epstein-Barr virus-specific serodiagnostic tests can be built.