Surface antigens produced by Herpesviruses Varicella-Zoster virus

Surface antigen(s) was demonstrated by the mixed agglutination technique on cell cultures infected with varicella-zoster virus (V-Z). The reactions appeared to be specific for V-Z, and no cross-reaction was obtained with herpes simplex virus (HSV). V-Z surface antigen had similar physicochemical properties to that of HSV. It was stable to heating at 56 C and treatment with 1% Formalin, 2,4-dinitrophenol, and periodate, whereas it was undetectable after exposure to acetone or ethanol. Antibodies detecting surface antigen were present in high titer in sera from varicella or herpes zoster patients and paralleled titers obtained by the complement fixation test.