Differences in antigenic properties of Fc-binding activity during infection with herpes simplex virus type 1.

The antigenic properties of the Fc receptor induced by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) were studied with anti-HSV F(ab')2 and pFc' from infected rabbits. It appeared that the HSV-induced Fc-binding receptor had different antigenic characteristics at different times after infection. The Fc receptor present early in the infection (0.5 hours), during the adsorption period, most probably is the result of a fusion event between the virus envelope and the infected cell. We found that this Fc receptor reacted with anti-HSV F(ab')2 and thus showed HSV-antigenic properties in such a way that binding of anti-HSV F(ab')2 prevented the binding of pFc' fragments. Later on in the infection (5 hours), the Fc-binding activity present on the surface of the infected cell is the result of newly synthesized and in the plasma membrane integrated polypeptides. The Fc-binding activity present on the cell surface of 5 hours infected cells could not be inhibited by anti-HSV F(ab')2 and did not interfere with the binding of pFc' to the Fc receptor.