Korean J Infect Dis.  2000 Aug;32(4):287-293.

Gene Cloning of the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Antigen Reactive with the Serum from EBV-infected Patients

• Hwang ES
• Kim J
• Park CG
• Kook YH
• Choi MS
• Kim IS
• Choi SB
• Cha CY

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is causative agent of infectious mononucleosis and nasopharyngeal carcinoma and associated with Burkitt lymphoma and other tumors. The recombinant protein is needed for the rapid and sensitive serodiagnosis of EBV infection.
METHODS
EBV gene encoding the protein reactive with the sera of EBV-infected patient was cloned and characterized with lambda gt11 expression library of cDNA of EBV B95-8 strain.
RESULTS
The recombinant proteins from clone 12, 15 and 21 were expressed as 120, 118, 160 kDa-usion protein with beta-galactosidase, respectively, which were reactive with IgG anti-EBV antibody-positive sera, but not with anti-EBV antibody-negative sera. A homology search of the DNA sequence of the cloned gene with EBV B95-8 sequences revealed that those were located at 61716~62087, 61898~62085, and 102128~103158, respectively. These positions correspond to BFRF3, BFRF3, and BZLF1, respectively, which were reported as immunogenic protein which evoked strong and longstanding antibody response and had no sequence homology with the proteins of other herpesviruses. All the patients' sera were reactive with clone 12 protein, but only 5 out of 9 patients' sera were reactive with clone 21 protein.
CONCLUSION
Clone 21 protein expressing BFRF3 fragment was immunoreactive in patient sera from natural EBV infection and was regarded as useful candidate for the serodiagnosis of EBV infection.

Keyword

Epstein-Barr virus; Gene cloning; Phage library; Protein expression

MeSH Terms

Antibody Formation
Base Sequence
beta-Galactosidase
Burkitt Lymphoma
Clone Cells*
Cloning, Organism*
DNA, Complementary
Epstein-Barr Virus Infections
Herpesviridae
Herpesvirus 4, Human*
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Infectious Mononucleosis
Recombinant Proteins
Sequence Homology
Serologic Tests
DNA, Complementary
Immunoglobulin G
Recombinant Proteins
beta-Galactosidase