Antigen Markers for Clinical Manifestations and Prevention of HTLV-III/LAV Infections.

摘要

During this year of our research we looked further at the immune response to various HIV-1 antigens, concentrating especially on the response to the envelope glycoprotein gp 120. Using serum samples from hemophiliacs we found that the first antibodies detectable by Western blot are those against gp 120 (NR) domains--those which are conformationally-dependent and which are not detected under reducing conditions. This suggests that the reducing conditions used in most Western blot confirmatory tests miss detection of these antibodies. Since these gp120 (NR) antibodies persist throughout the course of infection at high titers, it seems that they are very immunogenic, but perhaps not very protective against the virus. We also found a significantly higher rate of progression to AIDS-related complex (ARC) for individuals lacking antibodies to gp120(R). In studies focussing on HIV-2 and SIV, we identified a new gene, now called vpx, which is not found in hte genome of HIV-1. (js)