title: Neutralizing epitopes in the membrane-proximal region of HIV-1 gp41: genetic variability and co-variation.
abstract: Recent investigations on the passive immunization have proved that neutralizing antibodies directed to the membrane-proximal region of HIV-1 gp41 are potent anti-viral components, so this region is thought to be an attractive target for AIDS vaccine. Three key neutralizing epitopes, ELDKWA (aa662-667), NWFDIT (aa671-676) and ERDRDR (aa739-744) have been mapped in this region. In this study, their genetic variability and co-variation was evaluated. There exists marked shift in the predominant sequence patterns on these three neutralizing epitopes over time. Compared with subtype B, non-B clades exhibit significant genetic variability and co-variation on these three epitopes. Among HIV-1 strains isolated in recent 5 years, about one third displays epitope variants simultaneously on three epitopes. The newly isolated strains with co-variations on several neutralizing epitopes ought to be of strict surveillance in clinical treatment, and those frequent epitope variants should also be considered in vaccine design.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China. xndong00@mails.tsinghua.edu.cn <xndong00@mails.tsinghua.edu.cn>
authors.forename: Xiao-Nan
authors.initials: XN
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Ying-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000918:Antibody Specificity / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D018604:Epitope Mapping; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D000939:Epitopes; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41