title: Mapping of a new immunodominant human linear B-cell epitope on the vpu protein of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1.
abstract: A random fragment expression library was used to identify and map a new human epitope on the vpu protein of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The epitope was mapped to the central part of the protein within amino acids (aa) 37-50 comprising the sequence N-KIDRLIDRLI-ERAE-C. A alpha-galactosidase-vpu fusion protein representing aa 37-68 of vpu was used to screen 356 human serum samples from HIV-1-infected persons for antibodies to the novel epitope. A total of 125 (35.1%) of the samples reacted with this region of vpu. Antibodies against this region were significantly more prevalent among samples from individuals with CD4 cell counts < 400 cells/microliters than individuals with CD4 cell counts > or = 400 cells/microliters (37.6 vs. 17.6%; p < 0.0146, Fisher's exact test). Thus, the presence of antibodies against this epitope of vpu appears to be associated with a progressed state of disease.
authors.affiliation: Statens Seruminstitut, Department of Virology, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kusk
authors.forename: B O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Lindhardt
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Bugge
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Holmbäck
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Hulgaard
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis*; D015723:Gene Library; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D054298:Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D054298:Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C514859:vpu protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins