A novel epitope R7V common to all HIV-1 isolates is recognized by neutralizing IgG found in HIV-infected patients and immunized rabbits.
We have previously reported that the presence of antibodies (Ab) directed to the beta2-microglobulin-derived peptide R7V in patient's serum correlated with the nonprogression to AIDS. In order to investigate whether R7V motif could represent a potential target for neutralization, we have immunopurified anti-R7V Ab from sera of nonprogressors, as well as from sera of rabbits injected with R7V. We showed that human as well as rabbit purified,anti-R7V IgG precipitated laboratory adapted strains, as well as primary isolates from different clades indicating that: (1) R7V epitope is a common motif presented at the surface of genetically divergent HIV-1 strains (2) R7V is immunogenic in vivo. When used in neutralizing assay, purified anti-R7V Ab from human or rabbit origin were shown to neutralize infection by HIV-1 laboratory adapted strains and HIV-1 primary isolates. All together, our results indicate that the R7V motif shared by all HIV strains could be considered as a possible candidate for an HIV vaccine.
Galéa
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P
INSERM Unité 322-Unité de Recherche sur les Rétrovirus et Maladies associées, Université de la Méditerranée, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseilles, France.
Le Contel
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C
Chermann
J C
JC
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011817:Rabbits; D013499:Surface Properties
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G