Development of an immunofluorescence assay using recombinant proteins expressed in insect cells to screen and confirm presence of human herpesvirus 8-specific antibodies

Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2008 Aug;15(8):1259-64. doi: 10.1128/CVI.00487-07. Epub 2008 May 28.

Abstract

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), or Kaposi's sarcoma (KS)-associated herpesvirus, has been linked to all forms of KS. The results of most current serological assays for the detection of HHV-8-specific antibodies have low levels of concordance among themselves. To establish a sensitive and specific testing strategy that can be used to screen for HHV-8-specific antibodies, three HHV-8 proteins, ORF65, ORF73, and K8.1A, were expressed by using baculoviral vectors in insect cells and incorporated into a monoclonal antibody-enhanced immunofluorescence assay (mIFA) termed the Sf9 three-antigen mIFA. The results obtained by this mIFA were compared to those obtained by a standard mIFA with an HHV-8-infected B-cell line (BC3 mIFA). Test sera were obtained from patients diagnosed with KS, human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected patients at high risk for HHV-8 infection, and healthy controls from a local blood bank. The combined use of both assays had a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 96%. The performance of these two assays when they were used together indicates that they may be useful for the reliable detection of HHV-8-specific immunoglobulin G antibodies in a population.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Antibody Specificity
  • Antigens, Viral / genetics
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology*
  • Antigens, Viral / metabolism
  • Baculoviridae / genetics
  • Baculoviridae / metabolism
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique / methods*
  • Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Glycoproteins / immunology
  • Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Herpesviridae Infections / diagnosis
  • Herpesviridae Infections / immunology
  • Herpesviridae Infections / virology
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology*
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spodoptera
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / immunology
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Glycoproteins
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • K8.1 protein, Human herpesvirus 8
  • ORF65 protein, human herpesvirus 8
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Viral Proteins