title: A sensitive assay for detection and measurement of neutralising antibody to human immunodeficiency virus.
abstract: An assay based on the inhibition of syncytium formation in C8166 cells was developed to measure low levels of neutralising antibody (NT-AB) to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and to detect cross-reactivity between virus strains. The relationship between virus challenge and antibody titre was represented by a tripartite curve which was essentially linear over moderate levels of virus input. Based on these findings, antibody titres were standardised against 100 TCID50 of challenge virus. However, lower virus inocula were found to detect minimum levels of antibody. Reproducibility of antibody titres between tests was high, with variation generally lying within one dilution step. The improved sensitivity of the technique allowed detection of NT-ABs in animals immunised with immune-stimulating complexes (ISCOMS) incorporating HIV antigens. Consistent levels of cross-reactivity between HIV strains was demonstrated, indicating the presence of distinct viral groups, from which dominant isolates may be chosen for use in vaccination studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Browning
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jarrett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006678:HIV / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D009500:Neutralization Tests / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011817:Rabbits; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014773:Virology / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies