title: Use of HIV-1 specific immunoglobulin G3 as a serological marker of vertical transmission.
abstract: The objective of the study was to indicate HIV infection in infants. The patients were part of a longitudinal cohort of 43 infants born to HIV seropositive mothers. A modified Genelavia EIA primarily directed against HIV envelope proteins was used. An alkaline phosphatase labelled IgG3 conjugate was substituted in place of the kit conjugate. HIV specific IgG3 clearance was optimal at 6 months, whilst HIV total antibody was reliable only from age 12 months onwards. At 6 months no detectable IgG3 were found in 91 per cent of uninfected infants where more of these infants had reduced their total HIV antibody titres at the same period. We confirm that HIV specific IgG3 measurement is a reliable and cost effective means of identifying HIV infected infants from 6 months of age onwards.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Madurai
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moodley
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Coovadia
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bobat
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gopaul
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: York
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G