ANTIBODY-RESPONSES TO DEFINED EPITOPES IN THE EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS BZLF1-ENCODED TRANSACTIVATOR PROTEIN AMONG HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-INFECTED PATIENTS

The Epstein-Barr virus BZLF1-encoded replication activator (ZEBRA) is a key mediator of reactivation from latency to the viral productive cy cle. In the present study, the serum antibody responses against three defined ZEBRA epitopes (designated ZEBRA-1, -19, and -22) were determi ned for 50 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive patients an d 100 matched healthy control subjects. The anti-ZEBRA responses were more commonly found among HN-seropositive patients than among healthy controls for all the three ZEBRA epitopes tested (P < 0.0003, P < 0.00 3, and P < 0.001, respectively). Comparison of ZEBRA antibody levels w ith the degree of immunodeficiency (CD4 cell counts), CDC grouping, an d HIV p24 antigen positivity showed little association, suggesting tha t induction of ZEBRA antibodies is an early event after HIV infection.