Immunoprecipitation of herpes simplex virus type 1 antigens with different antisera and human cerebrospinal fluids.

Rabbit convalescent and hyperimmune sera, human patient and blood donor sera, as well as cerebrospinal fluids of humans with herpes simplex virus encephalitis all recognize similar major antigenic components in herpes simplex virus infected rabbit or human cells as shown by electrophoretic analysis of immunoprecipitates. Besides the main glycoproteins with an apparent molecular weight of 100,000 (peak I) the antisera precipitate glycoproteins in a region of an apparent mol. wt. of 60,000--80,000 (peak II), which were resolved into distinct glycoprotein species only by antibody-containing cerebrospinal fluids. The peak II glycoproteins appear on the surface of the infected cell early, and absorb neutralizing antibodies, whereas the peak I glycoproteins are less accessible. Both antigens can be demonstrated in the cell as early as about 2 hours post infection. All major antigenic components studied were found to be glycosylated except one protein with an apparent mol. wt. of 110,000. The herpesvirus specificity of these antigens is demonstrated by a variety of control experiments. The antigens detected are virion components.