Recombinant VZV Glycoprotein E (gE) [His]

The Herpesviridae family includes the neurotropic α-herpesvirus known as varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which is widely detected in people. In addition to producing shingles and varicella (chickenpox), VZV can lie dormant in the nerve ganglia of the human body and reawaken when the immune system is compromised. Primary VZV infection usually causes chickenpox, a highly contagious disease that mostly affects children. Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) can become dormant in the nervous system and reactivate when the immune system is weakened, resulting in shingles. This virus can multiply and propagate within the ganglia, resulting in an enhanced inflammatory response and neuronal death. Severe neuralgia is common, with the elderly suffering the most. Chickenpox is the primary infection caused by VZV, characterized by widespread rashes and fever. Due to its high contagion, chickenpox outbreaks often affect large numbers of unvaccinated children. While chickenpox is self-limiting in most cases, severe complications such as encephalitis and pneumonia can occur, especially in individuals with weakened immune systems, potentially leading to serious outcomes. On the other hand, shingles result from the reactivation of VZV within the nerve ganglia, usually presenting with unilateral painful rashes. The incidence and severity of shingles increase with age, with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) being especially common. This neuralgia can persist for months or even years, severely affecting the patient's quality of life.

Vaccination is an essential preventive measure against VZV infection and the problems it can cause. The varicella vaccination has been widely used to lower the incidence of chickenpox drastically. The shingles vaccination has also demonstrated good preventive effects for shingles, especially in the older population. According to studies, shingles vaccination can lessen the risk of postherpetic neuralgia and cut the incidence of shingles in people over 50 by almost 50%. These vaccinations considerably lessen the burden on public health and safeguard individual health.

Figure 1. Effective Composition of Adjuvanted Recombinant Herpes Zoster Vaccine (Source: Ishihara R, et al., 2024)

Among VZV's numerous membrane proteins, glycoprotein E (gE) is one of the most prominent and important. VZV's principal protective antigen is gE, which plays an important role in replication and dissemination. Because of its relevance, gE has become a key target in vaccine research. Recombinant subunit vaccines based on gE have already entered clinical trials, demonstrating considerable protective effects, particularly in the elderly population. Studies have shown that the gE subunit vaccination can greatly lower the incidence of shingles in people aged 50 and up, with an efficacy of up to 97.2% when compared to a placebo. Furthermore, gE has significant uses in the serological detection of VZV. Currently, gE-based detection methods, including Western blotting and immunofluorescence, are widely used for diagnosing VZV infection. However, quantitative detection methods targeting gE, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), are still under development. Researchers have successfully developed a specific and sensitive sandwich ELISA detection method to quantitatively measure gE content in vaccines by purifying recombinant gE protein (rgE) expressed in insect cells. This technological breakthrough not only enhances the quality control capabilities of VZV vaccines but also provides powerful tools for further research on VZV and the development of related vaccines. Overall, VZV is not only the causative agent of chickenpox and shingles, but its associated gE protein also provides an important scientific basis for vaccine development and disease prevention. With ongoing vaccine research, we expect to see safer and more effective VZV vaccines in the future, further reducing the incidence of VZV-related diseases.

Recombinant Varicella-Zoster Virus Glycoprotein E
VZV gE Recombinant Protein