Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) (strain Oka vaccine) Glycoprotein B/gB Protein

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a highly fusogenic virus, but the degree of fusion is dependent on the cell substrate in which the virus is propagated. Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is classified as an alphaherpesvirus based on its growth characteristics and its ability to become latent in the nervous system of the host. Like all known herpesviruses, VZV encodes a homolog of glycoprotein B (gB) . Glycoprotein B (gB) is the most conserved entry glycoprotein among herpesviruses with an amino acid sequence identity of around ~ 50% within each subfamily. While the role of gB during alphaherpesvirus entry is well established, multiple lines of evidence also support the involvement of gB during herpesvirus egress.