title: Mapping of linear B-cell epitopes on the major core protein p24 of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).
abstract: Three murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) F5-2, F5-4, and F5-16 defining three different epitopes on the major core protein p24 of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) were epitope mapped using a random fragment expression library representing the p17- and p24-encoding part of the gag open reading frame. F5-2 defined an epitope within amino acids (aa) 14-23 at the N-terminus of p24, and F5-4 defined an epitope within aa 153-174 in the C-terminus of p24. F5-16 did not recognize any of the fusion proteins produced by the expression library indicating that this MAb defines a true conformational epitope on p24. Since the N-terminus of p24 has been reported to be immunosilent in humans, 356 HIV-1 antibody-positive serum samples were tested for reactivity against the region of p24 defined by F5-2. More than one third of the samples recognized this region indicating that it is immunoreactive and, further, the presence of antibodies against this region was associated with a reduced CD4 cell count.
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000235:genetics*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D004279:DNA, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24