Abstract: Disclosed are recombinant, synthetically and otherwise biologically produced novel proteins and polypeptides which are encoded by the DNA sequence for HSV-2 glycoprotein G (gG) or fragments of said gG sequence particularly by the unique sequence for gG or portions of said unique sequence. The unique sequence proteins and polypeptides are serologically active, can be produced easily and safely at low cost, are useful as diagnostic reagents for HSV-2 and as vaccines against HSV-2. Further disclosed are serological assays based on such unique sequence gG proteins and polypeptides that diagnose the presence of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) specific antibodies and can differentiate between HSV-2 and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) specific antibodies. Such assays are useful to diagnose genital infections, to detect for exposure to HSV-2 and to screen pregnant women to protect newborns from neonatal HSV-2 infection.

Abstract: Disclosed are recombinant, synthetically and otherwise biologically produced novel proteins and polypeptides which are encoded by the DNA sequence for HSV-2 glycoprotein G (gG) or fragments of said gG sequence, particularly by the unique sequence for gG or portions of said unique sequence. The unique sequence proteins and polypeptides are serologically active, can be produced easily and safely at low cost, are useful as diagnostic reagents for HSV-2 and as vaccines against HSV-2. Further disclosed are serological assays based on such unique sequence gG proteins and polypeptides that diagnose the presence of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) specific antibodies and can differentiate between HSV-2 and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) specific antibodies. Such assays are useful to diagnose genital infections, to detect for exposure to HSV-2 and to screen pregnant women to protect newborns from neonatal HSV-2 infection.