Recombinant vaccinia virus induces neutralising antibodies in rabbits against Epstein-Barr virus membrane antigen gp340.

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Abstract
The Epstein‐Barr virus membrane antigen gene gp340 was isolated, inserted into several strains of vaccinia virus and expressed under the control of a vaccinia virus promoter. The EBV‐derived protein which was produced by the recombinant vaccinia viruses was heavily glycosylated, readily labelled with threonine, could be detected at the surface of infected cells and had a mol. wt. of approximately 340 kd, all of which are properties of the authentic gp340. Polyclonal rabbit antisera against gp340 and an EBV‐neutralising anti‐gp340 monoclonal antibody both recognised cells infected with the recombinant vaccinia viruses. Moreover, rabbits vaccinated with one of the recombinants produced antibodies that recognised EBV‐containing lymphoblastoid cells and neutralised EBV.