title: Serological characterization of HTLV-III infection in AIDS and related disorders.
abstract: Current efforts to test blood donors and other persons for exposure to the human T cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III), the etiologic agent of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), are based on the measurement of serum antibodies to viral antigens. We studied presence of serum antibodies to HTLV-III-related antigens from 767 individuals with AIDS or AIDS-related complex (ARC) or asymptomatic persons at risk for AIDS by using ELISA and immunoblot techniques. Of the 280 specimens from AIDS and ARC subjects that were tested, 99% were ELISA reactive and 96% were immunoblot reactive. Greater than 96% of the seropositive subjects manifested antibodies to the p24 core antigen, whereas only 88% had antibodies to the gp41 envelope-related glycoprotein. Contrary to previous reports, a short incubation time in the immunoblot assay failed to detect low-titer or low-affinity antibodies that were detected by overnight incubation. There was no apparent difference in pattern of antibodies to HTLV-III-related antigens in symptomatic vs. asymptomatic seropositive individuals.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015488:HIV Antigens; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D012306:Risk; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015488:HIV Antigens; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins