title: A conserved neutralizing epitope on gp41 of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.
abstract: Vaccination against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) requires an immunogen which will elicit a protective immunity against viruses that show a high degree of genetic polymorphism. Therefore, the identification of neutralizing epitopes which are shared by many strains would be useful. In previous studies, we established a human monoclonal antibody (2F5) that neutralizes a variety of laboratory strains and clinical isolates of HIV-1. In the present report, we define the amino acid sequence Glu-Leu-Asp-Lys-Trp-Ala (ELDKWA) on the ectodomain of gp41 as the epitope recognized by this antibody. The sequence was found to be conserved in 72% of otherwise highly variable HIV-1 isolates. Escape mutants were not detected in cells infected with HIV-1 isolates MN and RF in the presence of antibody 2F5. Since sequence variability of neutralizing epitopes is considered to be a major obstacle to HIV-1 vaccine development, the conserved B-cell epitope described here is a promising candidate for inclusion in a vaccine against AIDS.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Angewandte Mikrobiologie, Universität für Bodenkultur, Wien, Austria.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muster
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Steindl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Purtscher
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trkola
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klima
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Himmler
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rüker
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Katinger
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D000939:Epitopes; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009500:Neutralization Tests
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015488:HIV Antigens; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41