HTLV-III env gene products synthesized in E. coli are recognized by antibodies present in the sera of AIDS patients. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1985. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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HTLV-III env gene products synthesized in E. coli are recognized by antibodies present in the sera of AIDS patients.

Cell. 1985 Jul;41(3):979-86. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE GENBANK/M14100
Crowl R; Ganguly K; Gordon M; Conroy R; Schaber M; Kramer R; Shaw G; Wong-Staal F; Reddy EP

Abstract: The envelope gene of HTLV-III, the retrovirus directly linked to AIDS, encodes a protein of 856 amino acids. Our sequence analysis of the cloned HTLV-III (HXB-3) env gene and its comparison with other isolates reveal significant divergence, especially in the external portion of this protein. A large segment of the env gene (1800 bp) was inserted into the expression vector pEV-vrf3, and a corresponding 68 kd protein, which encompasses both the extracellular and the membrane-associated regions of the native protein, was produced in E. coli. Several smaller polypeptides, which appear to be internal initiation products, were also produced. All 50 AIDS patient sera obtained from different locations in the United States specifically recognized the bacterially synthesized envelope proteins, as judged by Western blots. This suggests that these proteins will be useful for the diagnosis of HTLV-III infection and possibly as a vaccine against AIDS.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/DIAGNOSIS/*IMMUNOLOGY Amino Acid Sequence Antibodies, Viral/*ANALYSIS Antigens, Viral/IMMUNOLOGY Base Sequence *Cloning, Molecular Escherichia coli/GENETICS Genes, Structural Genes, Viral Human HTLV-BLV Viruses/*GENETICS Plasmids Polymorphism (Genetics) Viral Envelope Proteins/BIOSYNTHESIS/DIAGNOSTIC USE/*GENETICS/ IMMUNOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE

KWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/diagnosis/KWDimmunologyaminoacidsequenceantibodies,viral/KWDanalysisantigens,viral/immunologybasesequenceKWDcloning,molecularescherichiacoli/geneticsgenes,structuralgenes,viralhumanhtlv-blvviruses/KWDgeneticsplasmidspolymorphism(genetics)viralenvelopeproteins/biosynthesis/diagnosticuse/KWDgenetics/immunologyjournalarticle
851030
M85A0077

Copyright © 1985 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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