DOES THE HIV-1 MANIPULATE IMMUNE NETWORK VIA GP120 IMMUNOGLOBULIN-LIKE DOMAIN INVOLVING V3 LOOP

According to the multiple criteria used, the consensus sequences of HI V-1 gp120 and immunoglobulin heavy chain variable segment, which is mo re than 40 amino acids long, show structural similarities. We assume t hat this gp120 sequence might encode idiotopes. If this is the case th en the particular idiotope-bearing gp120, either soluble or expressed in multiple form on the surface of the infected cell, can influence th e immune response in idiotype(Id)-anti-Id fashion. This might be the m echanism by which HIV induces immunological abnormalities and it shoul d be taken into consideration in vaccine production as suggested by th e authors previously.