Quantitative immunoelectrophoretic analysis of human antibodies against herpes simplex virus antigens.

By use of crossed immunoelectrophoresis with intermediate gel, antidbody titers against six individual herpes simplex virus (HSV) glycoproteins and two nonglycosylated proteins were determined in 100 human sera. High antibody titers were found against two different HSV type-common glycoproteins designated Ag8 and Ag11 (containing glycosylated polypeptides D and B, respectively). The anti-Ag8 and -Ag11 titers correlated with HSV neutralizing antibody titers. Most of the serological cross-reactivity between HSV type 1 and type 2 was probably caused by antibodies to Ag8 and Ag11. Human antibodies against one HSV type 1-specific glycoprotein (Ag6, containing glycosylated polypeptide C) and two HSV type 2 glycoproteins (Ag4 and Ag9) were also demonstrated, and the titers correlated better with neutralizing antibody titers of the homologous than of the heterologous virus type. The data presented can be directly applied to the further development of diagnostic reagents.