Immune response after exposure to varicella zoster virus: characterization of virus-specific antibodies and their corresponding antigens.

Fourteen varicella zoster virus antigens were identified that induce antibodies during primary and recurrent infections. These antigens, which included the major nucleocapsid polypeptide (molecular weight, 155,000) and three glycoproteins (molecular weights, 130,000, 88,000, and 60,000, respectively) plus a number of minor antigens, were identified in radioimmunoprecipitation assays, using [35S]methionine-labeled extracts of cells infected with varicella zoster virus and sera from patients with primary and recurrent viral infections. No significant and reproducible differences were observed between early convalescent sera from cases with natural chicken pox and sera from cases with zoster in their ability react with viral antigens. Sera that were taken many years after episodes of chicken pox still retained their ability to react with the major viral antigens.