Caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus-infected goats can generate human immunodeficiency virus-gp120 cross-reactive antibodies(1).
Lentiviruses display surprisingly disparate clinical manifestations in their specific hosts, share complex genetic structures, and exhibit extensive diversity, particularly in their envelope genes. The envelope protein, gp135, of caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) has minimal primary sequence homology to gp120, the envelope protein of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Nevertheless, they bear certain similarities in that they both possess five variable regions, both are heavily glycosylated, and both share short sequence motifs. We establish a further relationship and demonstrate that some goats, infected with CAEV, possess gp135-specific antibodies which cross-react with gp120 from several HIV strains, provided the protein is expressed in insect cells. We show that, although the cross-reactivity of these immunoglobulins depends on the level of glycosylation, nevertheless, some antibodies recognize the protein epitopes on gp120, at least some of which are linear in character. Further characterization of this unexpected cross-reaction will define its potential therapeutic utility.
Department of Microbiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
Katherine A
KA
Louie
Joseph M
JM
Dadgari
Bethany M
BM
DeBoer
Hilary
H
Weisbuch
Peter M
PM
Snow
William P
WP
Cheevers
Angeline
A
Douvas
Minnie
M
McMillan
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D016088:Arthritis-Encephalitis Virus, Caprine / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000276:immunology*; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006031:Glycosylation; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D006041:Goats; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016180:Lentivirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; C412317:ENV protein, Caprine arthritis encephalitis virus; D015686:Gene Products, env; D006023:Glycoproteins; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins