title: Molecular mimicry between the rabies virus glycoprotein and human immunodeficiency virus-1 GP120: cross-reacting antibodies induced by rabies vaccination.
abstract: The 160-170 sequence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 gp120 mimics a nicotinic receptor-binding motif of rabies virus glycoprotein and snake neurotoxins. This sequence has been proposed to be involved in the binding of HIV-1 gp120 to the acetylcholine binding sites of nicotinic receptors. By using biomolecular interaction analysis (BIA) technology we have found that HIV-1 gp120 can bind to detergent-extracted nicotinic receptor from fetal calf muscle. The binding is inhibited by nicotine and by a synthetic peptide reproducing the gp120 160-170 sequence. The molecular mimicry between gp120 and rabies virus glycoprotein is confirmed by cross-reacting antibodies. We have found that vaccination against rabies can induce the production of anti-HIV-1 gp120 antibodies in humans. The cross-reacting antibodies are directed to the gp120 sequence involved in the mimicry with the rabies virus glycoprotein. The cross-reactivity between the rabies virus and HIV-1 has important implications in transfusion medicine. Moreover, the presence of cross-reacting antibodies between the nicotinic receptor binding site of rabies virus glycoprotein and a fragment of HIV-1 gp120 strengthens the hypothesis about the possible role of nicotinic receptors as potential receptors for HIV-1 in the central nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bracci
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ballas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spreafico
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neri
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000276:immunology*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006023:Glycoproteins; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D011819:Rabies Vaccines; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C064951:glycoprotein G, Rabies virus