ANTIBODIES AGAINST A COMPLEX OF CD4 AND A CHEMOKINE RECEPTOR DOMAIN, AND THEIR USE AGAINST HIV INFECTIONS

摘要

This invention is directed to monoclonal antibodies produced by using CD4-expressing T lymphocytes, such as peripheral blood mononuclear T cells, thymocytes, splenocytes and leukemia or lymphoma derived T cell line cells such as HPB-ALL or SUP-T as the immunogen in accordance with the protocols and screening procedures described. The monoclonal antibodies of the present invention are characterized by their ability to neutralize in vitro and in vivo primary isolates of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and related immunodeficiency viruses. The antibodies are directed against a host cell antigen complex comprising CD4 protein in association with domains from chemokine receptors and have broad neutralizing activities against primary isolates from all clades of HIV type 1 (HIV-1) and primary isolates of HIV type 2 (HIV-2) and Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV). The present invention is also directed to a method of selecting and producing such antibodies, hybridomas which secrete such antibodies, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such antibodies and methods for pre- and post-exposure prevention of immunodeficiency virus infection in primates, including humans, by such antibodies whose primary targets are CD4-expressing lymphocytes. 00000