Restriction endonuclease analysis of varicella-zoster virus DNAs.

The DNAs of 14 strains of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) isolated from epidemiologically unrelated individuals were analyzed by restriction endonuclease cleavage and agarose gel electrophoresis. Small but distinct differences in restriction patterns between the isolates were observed when the DNAs were digested with each of four enzymes examined (EcoRI, SalI, PstI, and HindIII). Six out of 14 isolates (43%) were lacking the PstI cleavage site between K and N fragments; one isolate was lacking the HindIII cleavage site between M and N fragments. No changes were observed in restriction patterns in DNA of one of the strains after 33 passages in cultured cells.