CELL LINE PRODUCING AIDS VIRAL ANTIGENS WITHOUT PRODUCING INFECTIOUS VIRUS PARTICLES AND METHOD AND KIT FOR DETECTION OF AIDS ANTIB

摘要

Leu-3.sup.- cells surviving infection with the AIDS retrovirus can be induced with IUdR to express infectious virus. A cellular clone (8E5), isolated by limiting dilution of a mass culture of survivor cells, was found to contain a single, integrated, defective provirus that was consitutively expressed. Although IUdR treatment of 8E5 cells failed to induce infectious virus, cocultivation with Leu-3.sup.+ generated the characteristic syncytia associated with acute AIDS retrovirus infention. The single integrated copy of proviral DNA directs the synthesis of all major viral structural proteins except p64 and p34 as monitored by immunoblotting. Diagnostic reagents and kits in accordance with the present invention are also described.