Mother and infant pairs from high risk group for AIDS were screened for the presence of antibodies to LAV/HTLV-III by ELISA and the positive sera confirmed by radioimmunoassay (Western-blot). The sera were also tested for the presence of neutralizing antibodies using a method based on the inhibition of the cytopatic effect of the virus. Of the 19 mother/infant pairs studied, 15 (group A)were from birth(from delivery to 2 weeks of age)and 4(group B)were within the first 3 months. 14/15(group A)and 4/4(group B) babies studied were positive for specific IgG antibodies to LAV/HTLV-III both by ELISA and Western blot. No correlation was found between the neutralizing titres of the mothers and those of the babies at birth. Although neutralizing antitbodies are IgG, which cross the placenta, in most of the cases studied the neutralizing titres of the babies were low compared to those of the mothers. At present 7/14 and 2/4 follow-up data on 9 sero-positive babies are available for the presence of LAV/HTLV-III antibodies immunological and clinical features. From these data does not appear to be a relationship between the presence of neutralizing antibodies and the clinical status of the babies. However, a longer follow up period is required to confirm this finding and this study is in progress.
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