title: Cross-neutralizing activity against divergent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 isolates induced by the gp41 sequence ELDKWAS.
abstract: Previously we identified the highly conserved amino acids Glu-Leu-Asp-Lys-Trp-Ala (ELDKWA) on the ecto-domain of gp41 as the epitope of a neutralizing monoclonal antibody (2F5) directed against human immunodeficiency virus type 1. In the present study, the sequence defining the epitope was introduced into the loop of antigenic site B of the influenza virus hemagglutinin. The resulting chimeric virus was able to elicit ELDKWA-specific immunoglobulins G and A in antisera of mice. Moreover, the distantly related human immunodeficiency virus type 1 isolates MN, RF, and IIIB were neutralized by these antisera. These data suggest that this conserved B-cell epitope is a promising candidate for inclusion in a vaccine against AIDS. The results also show that influenza virus can be used to effectively present the antigenic structure of this B-cell epitope.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Angewandte Mikrobiologie, Universität für Bodenkultur, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muster
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guinea
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trkola
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Purtscher
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klima
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Steindl
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Palese
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Katinger
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D002678:Chimera / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D003429:Cross Reactions; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009500:Neutralization Tests
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015488:HIV Antigens; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41