The gene for glycoprotein B (gB2) of HSV-2-strain G was subcloned, sequenced, recombinated into the lacZ-HcNPV, expressed in insect cells, and compared with the homologous gene of other HSV-2 strains. The ORF of the gB2 gene was 2,715 bp. The overall nucleotide sequence homology of te gB2 gene compared ith that of the two previously reported HSV-2 strains appeared to be over 98%. A recombinant virus named Baculo-gB2 protein in insect cells. The recombination was confirmed by a PCR and the expression was demonstrated by radio immunoprecipitation. Insect cells infected with the Baculo-gB2 virus synthesized and processed gB2 with approximately 120 kDa in the cells, and then secreted it into the culture media, where it reacted with a nomoclonal antibody to gB2. The gB2 polypeptide contained two main hydrophobic regions (a signal sequence from 1 to 23 amino acid residues, and a membrane anchor sequence from aa 745 to 798), eight N-glycosylation sites evenly distributed, and was rich in alanine (11.2%). Antibodies to this recombinant protein that were raised in mice recognized the viral gB2 and neutralized the infectivity of the HSV-2 in vitro. There results show that the gB2 protein was successfully porduced in insect cells and could be used to raise a protective neutralizing antibody. Accordingly, this particular recombinant protein may be useful in the development of a subunit vaccine.