Immune response to varicella-zoster virus glycoproteins in guinea pigs infected with Oka varicella vaccine.

A varicella skin test antigen has been developed based on the induction of delayed-type hypersensitivity to varicella-zoster virus (VZV), and has been used to evaluate the immune status to VZV. The authors have purified gB, gE:gI and gH:gL and examined their cutaneous reactivity in guinea pigs infected with Oka varicella vaccine. The cutaneous reaction to each glycoprotein was observed and the maturation process of cutaneous reaction was examined in infected guinea pigs. Cutaneous reaction to gH:gL, a major target of virus-neutralizing antibody, appeared first on day 3 among three glycoprotein complexes and the reaction to gE:gI, the most abundant glycoprotein, became strongest three weeks after infection. The earliest recognition of gH:gL may contribute to minimizing the spread of viral infection. Thus, the skin test may be a suitable marker to assess the cell-mediated immunity in varicella, including vaccine recipients and zoster, in relation to the immune status of glycoproteins.