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High-titre, cryostable cell-free varicella zoster virus
D R Harper1, N Mathieu, J Mullarkey
1Molecular Infection and Immunology Research Group, St. Bartholomew's and the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London, U.K.
Archives of Virology
|August 4, 1998
Summary
Preparing stable, high-titer varicella-zoster virus (VZV) stocks is now possible. A new freezing protocol using a specific buffer allows for consistent VZV titration in antiviral assays.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) research is hindered by challenges in producing high-titer, cell-free virus.
- Instability of VZV during freeze-thaw cycles complicates experimental procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate protocols for preparing stable, high-titer cell-free VZV stocks.
- To enable reliable VZV titration for use in neutralization and antiviral susceptibility assays.
Main Methods:
- Testing various protocols for VZV stock preparation.
- Utilizing a phosphate-buffered saline-sucrose-glutamate-serum (PSGC) buffer for VZV cryopreservation.
Main Results:
- Achieved VZV titers of 19,000 plaque-forming units per milliliter.
- VZV prepared using the PSGC buffer demonstrated comparable results in neutralization and antiviral assays to freshly prepared virus.
Conclusions:
- The developed cryopreservation protocol significantly improves VZV stock stability and titer.
- This method facilitates the use of high-titer, titrated VZV stocks in immunological and antiviral studies.