title: Detection of human T-lymphotropic virus type-I/II env antibodies by immunoassays using recombinant fusion proteins.
abstract: Two recombinant fusion proteins representing the C-terminus of the envelope glycoprotein of HTLV-I (rEnv-93(201-440)) and the C-terminus of the external glycoprotein (RE-3(165-306)) were tested in a Western blot (WB) assay for their ability to detect the presence of env antibodies in serum specimens from HTLV-I (n = 27) and HTLV-II (n = 22) infected individuals. The rEnv-93 reacted with 27 (100%) of 27 HTLV-I-infected specimens and 19 (86%) of 22 of HTLV-II-infected specimens. In contrast, RE-3 reacted with 25 (93%) of 27 HTLV-I-infected specimens, and only six (27%) of 22 HTLV-II-infected specimens, thus demonstrating predominant reactivity with HTLV-I compared with HTLV-II. Because of the high sensitivity of rEnv-93 reactivity in both HTLV-I and HTLV-II, the specificity of this env protein was evaluated in specimens with isolated gag reactivity (HTLVind). Of the 44 HTLVind specimens, four (9%) demonstrated reactivity to rEnv-93 in WB assay. We, therefore, conclude that although rEnv-93 is highly sensitive for detection of env protein, it has the potential to yield some false-positive reactions presumably due to the conserved nature of retroviral transmembrane epitopes.
authors.affiliation: Retrovirus Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Rudolph
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Khabbaz
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Folks
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Lal
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods*; D015485:Deltaretrovirus Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006800:Deltaretrovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D015482:HTLV-II Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015682:Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
chemical_list: D015485:Deltaretrovirus Antigens; D015686:Gene Products, env; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies; D015482:HTLV-II Antibodies; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D015682:Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; C055265:gp21 protein, Human T-lymphotropic virus 1; C055266:gp46 protein, Human T-cell leukemia virus type I