Detection of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that recognize conformational epitopes of glycoproteins 160 and 41 often allows for early diagnosis of HIV infection.
On the basis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) needlestick studies, the time to seroconversion for anti-HIV antibodies is 1-9 months (mean, approximately 2-3 months). However, an earlier marker of an immune response to HIV often occurs-serum anti-HIV antibodies reactive with live HIV-infected cells, termed "early HIV antibodies." The specificities of these antibodies are characterized by the recognition of type-specific conformational epitopes of the HIV envelope glycoprotein (gp) 160 and gp41. By use of a third-generation native HIV(IIIB) gp160 enzyme immunoassay (EIA), detection of HIV antibodies occurred, on average, 33 days earlier than did detection by commercial EIA and 25 days earlier than did detection by the reference antigen and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays in 3 of 5 HIV seroconversion panels. A fourth panel possessed early HIV antibodies that reacted with HIV(213) but not with HIV(IIIB), allowing for detection of HIV antibodies approximately 3 weeks earlier than by RT-PCR or other current tests.
Chen
Jianmin
J
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-1070, USA. jiachen@utmb.edu
Wang
Liqiang
L
Chen
Jenny J-Y
JJ
Sahu
Gautam K
GK
Tyring
Stephen
S
Ramsey
Keith
K
Indrikovs
Alexander J
AJ
Petersen
John R
JR
Paar
David
D
Cloyd
Miles W
MW
D015153:Blotting, Western; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D019302:HIV Envelope Protein gp160 / Q000276:immunology*; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004279:DNA, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D019302:HIV Envelope Protein gp160; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41