Multiple antigenic epitopes expressed on gag proteins, p26 and p15, of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 2 as defined with a library of monoclonal antibodies.
Thirty-two hybridoma clones producing monoclonal antibody (MAb) against HIV-2[GH-1] were established from mice immunized with NP-40-disrupted purified whole virus of a Ghanaian isolate of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2), strain HIV-2[GH-1]. Of these 32 MAbs, 20 reacted with p26 and the other MAbs recognized p15 of the HIV-2[GH-1] isolate. From the results of serological characterization by these MAbs, p26 and p15 were identified as capsid proteins and matrix protein, respectively, of HIV-2[GH-1] gag products. In addition to two gag proteins, a 55-kD protein corresponding to the primary translational product of gag gene and 39-kD protein corresponding to an intermediate product of cleavage of p55 were recognized by these MAbs in the lysate of HIV-2[GH-1]-infected cells. Moreover, these MAbs were used to analyze the number of antigenic epitopes on p26 and p15 of HIV-2[GH-1] isolate. The results of cross-reactivity with different HIV-1, HIV-2, and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) isolates and competitive binding assay suggest that there are at least four and five antigenic epitopes in p26 and p15, respectively, of the HIV-2[GH-1] isolate. The biological activity of MAbs was studied by performing syncytium inhibition assay and infection inhibition assays. However, our MAbs could not inhibit syncytium formation and infection by cell-free virus.
Department of Immunology, School of Hygienic Sciences, Kitasato University, Japan.
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H
Komatsu
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Tozawa
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M
Kawamura
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Kodama
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M
Hayami
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002460:Cell Line; D003429:Cross Reactions; D000939:Epitopes; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000276:immunology*; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000276:immunology; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015488:HIV Antigens; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; C065558:gag protein p26, Human immunodeficiency virus; C060295:p15 gag protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1