Characterization of immune responses to capsid protein p24 of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and implications for detection.
To further refine our current nanoparticle-based HIV-1 p24 antigen assay, we investigated immune responses to p24 to identify diagnostically significant immune dominant epitopes (IDEs) in HIV-infected human sera, to address cross-reactivity of anti-p24 antibodies to different subtypes, and to identify new biomarkers that distinguish acute from chronic HIV infection for more accurate incidence estimation. We identified two major linear epitope regions, located in the CypA binding loop and adjacent helices and at the end of the C-terminal domain. Most sera (86%) from acutely HIV-1-infected individuals reacted with multiple peptides, while 60% and 30% of AIDS patient samples reacted with multiple and single peptides, respectively. In contrast, 46% and 43% of chronically HIV-1-infected individuals reacted with one and none of the peptides, respectively, and only 11% reacted with multiple p24 peptides, indicating a progression of immune responses from polyclone-like during acute infection to monoclone-like or a nonresponse to linear epitopes during chronic infection. Anti-p24 antibodies (subtype B) show broad cross-reactivity to different HIV-1 subtypes, and the synergistic action of different combinations of anti-HIV antibodies improves capture and detection of divergent HIV-1 subtypes. Our results indicate that the modified peptide immunoassay is sensitive and specific for the rapid identification of HIV-1 p24 IDEs and for investigation of immune responses to p24 during natural HIV-1 infection. The data provide the foundation for development and refinement of new assays for improved p24 antigen testing as future tools for rapid and accurate diagnosis as part of early intervention strategies and estimations of incidence.
Lab of Molecular Virology, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 8800 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. shixing.tang@fda.hhs.gov
Shixing
S
Tang
Jiangqin
J
Zhao
Aifeng
A
Wang
Ragupathy
R
Viswanath
Harri
H
Harma
Richard F
RF
Little
Robert
R
Yarchoan
Susan L
SL
Stramer
Phillipe N
PN
Nyambi
Sherwin
S
Lee
Owen
O
Wood
Eric Y
EY
Wong
Xue
X
Wang
Indira K
IK
Hewlett
D003429:Cross Reactions; D018604:Epitope Mapping; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015483:HIV Antibodies; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; C514799:p24 protein, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1