Varicella zoster virus glycoprotein E-specific CD4+ T cells show evidence of recent activation and effector differentiation, consistent with frequent exposure to replicative cycle antigens in healthy immune donors.

Varicella zoster virus is also known as human herpesvirus 3. gE protein is encoded by ORF68. DRB1*07-transfected keratinocytes were used as APCs. Truncations of gE peptide 20 (a 20 mer) were made and tested by ELISA to determine the minimum length of the epitope. The minimum peptide was found to be a 9 mer, and the optimum peptide is found to be a 14 mer, GVRYTETWSFLPSL.