Preparation of herpes simplex virus type 1 genomic markers to differentiate strains of predominant genotypes.

Analyses of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) isolated in Japan using restriction endonucleases recognizing 6-base pairs revealed the presence of two predominant genotypes of F1 and F35. Therefore, the possibility that the two predominant genotypes may differ in clinical manifestations had to be considered. To address the question of whether differences in genotype would reflect clinical presentations of HSV-1 infection, RFLP markers to differentiate strains of predominant genotypes are required. In the present work, DNAs of 66 HSV-1 strains were analyzed, using restriction endonucleases recognizing 4-base pairs of HaeIII, HhaI, and MboI, the objective being to detect a large number of RFLP. The relationship between the 154 identified RFLPs and each predominant genotype of F1 and F35 was traced. RFLPs closely related to each predominant genotype were manifested, as the first case of a set of RFLPs diagnostic for the predominant genotypes. These diagnostic RFLPs will facilitate knowledge on association of predominant genotypes with clinical manifestations by efficiently identifying HSV-1 strains of a genotype, and, in addition, HSV-1 strains of a predominant genotype derived from a common ancestor.