Biochemical classification of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, and of intermediate strains on the basis of different susceptibilities of thymidine kinase to thymidine analogues.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 can be differentiated from HSV type 2 on the basis of the sensitivity to 2'-deoxythymidine-5'-monophosphate of thymidine kinase induced in primary rabbit kidney cells. Whereas thymidine kinase induced by five strains of HSV type 1 (TK 1) is stimulated by suitable concentrations of 2'-deoxythymidine-5'-monophosphate, thymidine kinase induced by eight strains of HSV type 2 (TK 2) is inhibited. On the other hand, TK 2 is strongly inhibited by 2'-deoxythymidine-5'-triphosphate and by 2-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine-5'-triphosphate. The investigation of TK induced by six freshly isolated strains of HSV cross-reacting in neutralisation tests revealed two strains which induced TK 1 and two strains which induced TK 2. Two other strains induced thymidine kinase, the activity of which under the influence of these thymidine analogues was between that of TK 1 and TK 2. The properties of thymidine kinase remained constant after cloning the virus and thus is a genetically fixed trait due to recombination which could well occur in vivo.