A type-specific antiserum induced bya major herpesvirus type 1 glycoprotein

A type-specific antiserum was prepared against VP 7/8, the major HSV-1 type-specific glycoprotein. The specificity of this antiserum was demonstrated by both neutralization of HSV-1 infectivity and immunoprecipitation followed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the immunoprecipitates. Only minimal cross-reactivity with HSV-2 was observed. This major VP 7/8 glycorprotein was also purified from a host of virus-induced proteins with the specific immunoadsorbent prepared with anti-VP 7/8 serum. The one-step purification of this type-specific neutralizing antigen of HSV-1 should allow the development of a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay.