EBV p18, GST

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), also known as Human Herpesvirus 4 (HHV-4), is a member of the herpesvirus family, which includes other well-known viruses such as Herpes Simplex Virus and Cytomegalovirus . EBV is one of the most common human viruses and is known for its ability to infect B-lymphocytes, where it can persist for the lifetime of the host .

EBV can execute several distinct programs of gene expression, broadly categorized into the lytic cycle and the latent cycle .

• Lytic Cycle: This cycle, also known as the productive infection, involves the staged expression of a host of viral proteins with the ultimate goal of producing infectious virions. This phase does not necessarily lead to the lysis of the host cell, as EBV virions are produced by budding from the infected cell .
• Latent Cycle: In this cycle, the virus does not produce virions. Instead, a limited set of viral proteins are produced, including Epstein-Barr nuclear antigens (EBNA) and latent membrane proteins (LMP) .

The p18 protein is a small capsid protein of EBV that is highly immunogenic in humans . It is described as a late antigen, meaning that IgG antibodies to the viral capsid antigen appear in the acute phase of infection, peak at 2 to 4 weeks after onset, and then persist for life .

The recombinant EBV p18 protein is produced in E. coli and contains the p18 regions (1-119 amino acids) fused to a Glutathione S-transferase (GST) tag at the C-terminus . This fusion protein is purified using proprietary chromatographic techniques to achieve a purity of over 95% as determined by PAGE (Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis) with Coomassie staining .

The EBV p18 recombinant protein with GST tag is suitable for use in various laboratory applications, including ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) and Western blots . It is an excellent antigen for the detection of HHV-4 (EBV) with minimal specificity problems .

The recombinant EBV p18 protein is stable at 4°C for one week but should be stored below -18°C for long-term storage to prevent freeze-thaw cycles . The protein is formulated in a buffer containing 25mM Tris-HCl pH 8.0, 1.5M urea, and 50% glycerol .

ProSpec’s EBV p18 recombinant protein is intended for laboratory research use only and is not suitable for use as drugs, agricultural or pesticidal products, food additives, or household chemicals .