Recombinant glycoprotein E produced in mammalian cells in large-scale as an antigen for varicella-zoster-virus serology

► A recombinant glycoprotein E from varicella-zoster virus was produced in Chinese Hamster Ovary cells. ► The production was performed in large-scale, in a perfusion bioreactor. ► The recombinant gE was evaluated as serological antigen for detection of IgG to varicella-zoster virus and compared to a whole virus antigen that has been used traditionally. ► The gE ELISA showed a high sensitivity and specificity for varicella-zoster. ► IgG antibodies to gE seem to increase with age.