METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING ATTENUATED CHICKENPOX VIRUS OKA STRAIN OR STRAIN ORIGINATING THEREIN AND ACCEPTABLE AS ATTENUATED CHICKENPOX VACCINE VIRUS

摘要

A novel and dependable method for identifying an attenuated chickenpox virus Oka strain or a strain originating therein and acceptable as an attenuated chickenpox vaccine virus which comprises distinguishing the above-mentioned Oka strain from a specimen by examining whether the chickenpox virus genomic DNA of the Oka strain agrees with that of the specimen in all of the eight requirements as will be defined hereinbelow or disagrees therewith in at least one of these eight requirements so as to identify the Oka strain: the size of the restriction enzyme Hpa I fragment K; the size of the restriction enzyme Eco RI fragment P; the size determination of the Gene 14 R2-487 region; the PCR-SSCP determination of this region; the size of the restriction enzyme AccIII fragment in the R2-1764 region: the occurrence of the restriction enzyme Pst I site in this region; the homology of the amino acid sequence encoded by the R2-487 region; and the homology of the amino acid sequence encoded by the entire ORF of VZV Gene 14. Also provided are a virus strain substantially identical to the attenuated chickenpox virus Oka strain or a strain originating therein and acceptable as an attenuated chickenpox vaccine virus which has been identified by the above-mentioned method; an attenuated chickenpox vaccine with the use of the virus strain as the active ingredient; and a gp V antigen encoded by Gene 14 which is useful as a diagnostic agent.