Marek's Disease Herpesviruses II. Purification and Further Characterization of Marek's Disease Herpesvirus A Antigen

Marek's disease herpesvirus A antigen was purified greater than 200-fold with a 24% recovery by ion exchange column chromatography, isoelectric focusing, and preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The antigen had an isoelectric point of 6.68 ± 0.03 in the presence of 1 M urea and 0.05% Brij 35, a nonionic detergent, and approximately 6.5 in the absence of dissociating agents. When analyzed by electrophoresis on analytical polyacrylamide gels, the purified antigen migrated as a single broad band which stained for both protein and carbohydrate, suggesting that it was a highly purified heterogeneous glycoprotein. However, the antigen was not purified to homogeneity as determined by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and by immunodiffusion analysis. Antibody to Marek's disease herpesvirus A antigen was prepared in a rabbit, and antibody to two contaminating antigens was removed by adsorption to yield monospecific antisera.