title: [Cloning and expression of the transmembranic glycoprotein from human T cell lymphotropic virus in a prokaryotic system].
abstract: HTLV-1 is the virus that causes T cell lymphoma/leukemia in adults and a neurological disorder known as HTLV-associated myelopathy or tropical spastic paraparesis. One of the transmission means is through contaminated blood and its byproducts. Because of the risk of HTLV-associated infections, screening for HTLV was introduced for Brazilian blood donors in 1993. Most of the diagnostic kits used in the national blood banks are bought from foreign companies. Brazil does not have the technology to produce this material and there is a need to produce diagnostic systems with national technology. In this study, we show the expression of gp21/HTLV-1 in Escherichia coli and its reactivity towards monoclonal antibodies and the antibodies of infected patients. Expressing these proteins is the first step towards obtaining diagnostic kits with Brazilian biotechnology.
authors.affiliation: Centro Regional de Hemoterapia, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil. elisa@hemocentro.fmrp.usp.br
authors.forename: Elisa Maria de Sousa
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Russo-Carbolante
authors.forename: Flora Cristina Lobo
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Penteado
authors.forename: Luciene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kashima
authors.forename: Oswaldo M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Takayanagui
authors.forename: Dimas Tadeu
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Covas
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015686:Gene Products, env; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; C055265:gp21 protein, Human T-lymphotropic virus 1