Part:BBa_K1621000

Glycoprotein E1 epitopes derived from Varicella Zoster Virus

This part contains the coding sequence of several epitopes derived from glycoprotein E1 of the Varicella Zoster Virus. Together with glycoproteins C and E2 it constitutes the structural proteins building the viral capsid.
Starkey et al. (1995) generated the sequence for the development of a new second generation vaccine against this virus. It covers amino acids 212 to 286 of the whole glycoprotein E1 and contains at least four epitopes that have been described before. Three epitopes located between amino acids 243 and 286 were described by Terry et al. (1988), whereas the putative neutralization domain was characterized by Mitchell et al. (1993).

New improved vaccination strategies against as well as detection methods for Varicella Zoster Virus are highly needed. Infections with this togavirus cause a rather mild disease, but become extremely dangerous if they occur in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. A good vaccination status in the population is the first step to prevent such infections. But as this is no guarantee for being protected, women planning to become pregnant are routinely tested for VZV infections. Therefore, a sensitive, specific and also cost efficient diagnostic tool is needed.