Antibody reactivity to synthetic peptides representing the principal neutralizing determinant of HIV-1 in mouse strains following repeated immunization with recombinant gp160.
The third variable region (V3) of the HIV-1 gp120 envelope molecule appears to represent a target for naturally occurring neutralizing antibodies in HIV-1-infected individuals. In this report, we examined the extent of antibody cross-reactivity to a panel of V3-based synthetic peptides in six inbred strains of mice following repeated immunization with a baculovirus-derived recombinant gp160 (rgp160) preparation formulated with alum. The amino acid sequence of the rgp160 used in these immunizations was based upon the HIV-1 IIIB (LAI) isolate. Following five injections with rgp160, all six strains developed antibodies to the homologous IIIB-based V3 peptides, designated 304-321 and RP135. However, antibody cross-reactivity to the other nonhomologous V3 peptides was either undetectable or limited among the strains of mice examined. No in vitro neutralizing activity against HIV-1 was observed in sera from any of the six inbred strains of mice that were examined. These results suggest that repeated immunization of mouse strains with a rgp160/alum formulation leads to nonneutralizing antibodies directed against the V3 region which remain predominantly type specific.
Warren
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RQ
Department of Virology and Immunology, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, Tex. 78228-0147.
Wolf
H
H
Stunz
G W
GW
Kennedy
R C
RC
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000276:immunology*; D007223:Infant; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins
D015488:HIV Antigens; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins