Identification of a type-specific protein that differentiates serologically between human T cell lymphotropic virus types I and II.
The 24-kDa band formed when sera of humans infected with human T cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-1) were reacted with HTLV-I lysates in conventional Western blot (WB) assays was found to be composed of two immunologically unrelated proteins of 24- and 23-kDa. p24, but not p23, carries epitopes shared by the major core proteins of the other known transactivating C-type retroviruses. p23 is unrelated immunologically to the env and tax HTLV-I products but partly cross-reacts with HTLV-I p19. All HTLV-I and simian T cell leukemia virus type I sera tested reacted with p23. Reactivity with p23 was seen with some HTLV-I sera that did not react or reacted weakly with HTLV-I p24. No reactivity with p23 was seen among the 51 human HTLV-II sera tested nor among a large panel of control sera. Because of its type-specificity and strong immunogenicity, p23 provides a reliable serologic marker for the diagnosis of HTLV-I infection and for distinguishing between HTLV-I and -II.
Carrera-Zandomeni
M
M
School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square 19348.
Zandomeni
R
R
Esteban
E N
EN
Ferrer
J F
JF
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002417:Cattle; D003429:Cross Reactions; D015486:HTLV-I Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D015487:HTLV-II Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D015491:HTLV-II Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D015367:Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015682:Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic / Q000276:immunology*; D012703:Serotyping; D012756:Sheep
D015486:HTLV-I Antigens; C081055:HTLV-I p23 protein, Human T-lymphotropic virus 1; D015487:HTLV-II Antigens; D015682:Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic