Synthetic env gp41 peptide as a sensitive and specific diagnostic reagent in different stages of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection.
An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for serum antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), based on the synthetic pentadecapeptide SGKLICT-TAVPWNAS, a segment of the transmembrane glycoprotein (gp41) of the virus, was developed and tested for sensitivity and specificity. Sera of 152 individuals at various stages of HIV-1 infection, including two prospectively and six retrospectively studied patients exposed to HIV-1 but seronegative on initial testing in whole-virus EIA and immunoblotting, were screened with the gp41 peptide antibody EIA. The reference population consisted of 1,000 healthy HIV-1 antibody-negative blood donors. In addition, five individuals with antibodies to HIV-2 were studied. Antibodies to the synthetic peptide were detected in 100% of those with asymptomatic infection. Only one patient with LAS failed to react in the peptide EIA. Patients with HIV-2 infection did not react in this test. The peptide antibodies appeared rapidly after infection, were detectable at the time when seroconversion was observed by immunoblotting, and preceded reactivity in whole-virus EIA. Sera of seven patients with verified HIV-1 infection did not react with gp41 in immunoblotting, although antibodies were readily detectable in the gp41 peptide EIA.
Närvänen
A
A
Labsystems Research Laboratories, Helsinki, Finland.
Korkolainen
M
M
Suni
J
J
Korpela
J
J
Kontio
S
S
Partanen
P
P
Vaheri
A
A
Huhtala
M L
ML
D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology
D000939:Epitopes; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015488:HIV Antigens; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins