Characterization of the simian varicella virus glycoprotein C, which is nonessential for in vitro replication.

The simian varicella virus (SVV) glycoprotein C (gC), which may play an important role in viral pathogenesis, shares extensive homology to the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) gC. The SVV gC gene includes two identical 83 base pair repeat elements which are conserved within the gC genes of epidemiologically distinct SVV isolates. Expression of the gC gene was confirmed by detection of viral gene products. Deletion of the gC gene and replacement with the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene yields a SVVgC(-)/GFP mutant which replicates as efficiently as wild type virus, demonstrating the SVV gC gene is nonessential for in vitro replication.