Screening of Varicella-Zoster virus specific CTL antigen and analysis of Varicella vaccine induced cell-mediated immunity.

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Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) is thought to be crucial for protection against Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV) infection. We screened for major CMI-inducible VZV protein by Enzyme-Linked Immuno-Spot (ELISPOT) assay. Because already-known CMI antigens of other herpesviruses are localized in cell nuclei, nuclear distributed VZV proteins were examined as candidates for major CMI antigens. VZV protein(s) inducing CMI were searched among peripheral blood mononuclear cell specimens derived from healthy volunteers. As the result, ORF8, 61 and 66 induced CMI in more than 80% of specimens. About ORF61, epitope sequences were identified using oligo peptides. Our findings contribute to establish a new standardized CMI-quantification system.