New peptide, artificial antigen and immunoassay kit

摘要

PCT No. PCT/SE88/00570 Sec. 371 Date Jun. 22, 1990 Sec. 102(e) Date Jun. 22, 1990 PCT Filed Oct. 27, 1988 PCT Pub. No. WO89/03844 PCT Pub. Date May 5, 1989An artificial peptide having an amino acid sequence which corresponds to a naturally occurring amino acid sequence of a HIV comprising an epitope and which further has two cysteine residues located on each side of said epitope, and further having a sulphur bridge between said two cysteine residues, which has been formed by a chemical oxidation step, is described. Furthermore, an artificial antigen which reacts with antibodies induced by a HIV is described. Said antigen mainly consists of an artificial peptide according to the invention. Additionally, a method of detecting antibodies induced by a HIV in a sample of body fluid, wherein said sample is subjected to an immunoassay, especially ELISA, and wherein an artificial antigen according to the invention is used as a diagnostic antigen, is described. A diagnostic immunoassay kit for said method is also described. Finally, a vaccine composition comprising, as an immunizing component, at least one antigen according to the invention, is described.