Development of a microwell adapted immunoblot system with recombinant antigens for distinguishing human herpesvirus (HHV)6A and HHV6B and detection of human cytomegalovirus.

Background: The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and the human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6) are widely distributed in the human population. The variants A and B of HHV6 are closely related to each other and cannot be distinguished by common serological methods like enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or immunofluorescence test (IFT). The aim of this study was to develop a microwell-adapted blot system for specificity detection of human cytomegalovirus and human herpesvirus 6A and 6B (HHV6A, HHV6B) that combines the advantages of ELISA (automation and multiplex detection) and immunoblotting (antigen-specific antibody detection with high specificity).

Methods: Ten HCMV, five HHV6A and five HHV6B antigens were expressed as fusion proteins and tested with sera of children (n=30), of healthy young adults (n=30) and of older adults (n=30) in a newly developed microblot system.

Results: Sensitivity and specificity of HCMV and HHV6 microblots were comparable to commercially available[ELISA, IFT and to line assay tests. The advantage of the HHV6 microblot is the possibility of distinguishing between HHV6A-monovalent sera, HHV6B-monovalent sera and HHV6A/B-polyvalent sera. Most sera of children younger than 2 years showed only HHV6B antigen positivity, while most sera of adults and children aged over 2 years reacted with HHV6A and B proteins, although predominance for HHV6B was observed.

Conclusions: The authors were able to detect HCMV positive sera and to distinguish between HHV6A-monovalent sera, HHV6B-monovalent sera and HHVA/B-polyvalent sera with the new developed microblot system. Predominance of HHV6B was observed in sera of children and adults.