title: Discrimination between antibodies to HIV and to related retroviruses using site-directed serology.
abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) strains can be separated into two types: HIV and HIV-related West African viruses. Site-directed serology using synthetic peptides offers possibilities for the determination of type-specific antibodies. A 22-amino-acid peptide with the sequence Ala-Ile-Glu-Lys-Tyr-Leu-Glu-Asp-Gln-Ala-Gln-Leu-Asn-Ala-Trp-Cys-Ala-Phe-Arg-Gln - Val-Cys representing a conserved region of the transmembranous protein of simian T-cell lymphotropic virus-type III (STLV-III; related to West African HIV) was used as antigen in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In parallel, tests were performed with a pair of previously described peptides, including the homologous region of the glycoprotein (gp) 41 of the HIV strain HTLV-IIIB. In tests with three groups of 20 sera it was shown that the different peptide ELISAs allowed a categorical distinction of antibodies to the two types of HIV. Tests using peptide antigens may provide excellent opportunities for large-scale testing for type-specific antibodies against HIV. The tests are simple, sensitive and specific and are readily standardized.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology*; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006023:Glycoproteins; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins