Fluorescence-activated separation of cervical abnormal cells using herpesvirus antigenic markers.

Antisera to total HSV-2 (G) viral antigens (Ra-2) and to increasingly purified viral antigenic fractions ("crude" and "pure" AG-e) specifically stain HSV-2-(G)- or HSV-1-(F)-infected HEp-2 cells in indirect immunofluorescence. Anti-"crude" AG-e sera induced by HSV-1 (F) or HSV-2 (G) produce a single precipitin band of identity when reacted in gel immunodiffusion against soluble antigenic mixtures from HSV-2-infected cells (HSV-2 (G) SAM). These reactivities are lost following adsorption of the sera with HSV-1 or HSV-2-infected cells or with pelleted or dextran gradient purified virions. Ra-2 and anti-"crude" or "pure" AG-e sera stain exfoliated cervical cells from patients with herpetic cervicitis as well as atypical cells from patients with atypia, carcinoma in situ or invasive cancer. Normal squamous cells do not stain. HSV-2 viral antigens recognized by the Ra-2 and anti-AG-e sera appear to constitute specific and sensitive markers for the separation of atypical cells in a fluorescence-activated cell sorter.