Relative titers of antibodies to individual polypeptide antigens of herpes simplex virus type 1 in human sera.

Human immune sera were analyzed by an immunoblot procedure in order to identify which polypeptides of herpes simplex virus type 1 were recognized and to determine the relative concentrations of antibodies to individual viral antigens. The strongest reactivity in all immune sera examined was directed against the three major herpes simplex virus-specific glycoprotein antigens (gAB, gC, and gD) and a series of uncharacterized low-molecular-weight polypeptides. Titers of antibody to the gC and gD antigens varied among individuals and were often considerably lower than titers of antibody to the gAB antigen. Immune sera also recognized a number of nonglycosylated polypeptides, both structural and nonstructural. No consistent differences were noted between the recognition of particular viral polypeptides by sera from individuals with frequent, recurrent labial lesions and that by sera from individuals with infrequent, recurrent lesions. However, the ratio between the titer of antibody to the gAB antigen and that to the gC antigen did appear to be somewhat lower in sera from persons with a high recurrence rate.