GENERATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MONOCL ONAL-ANTIBODIES TO RECOMBINANT PROTEINS OF HIV-1 AND HIV-2-ENV AND GAG GENE-PRODUCTS

Ten hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies (Mab) against recombina nt HIV-1 and HIV-2 antigens were produced (3 Mab anti-gag protein, 2 a nti-env1, and 5 anti-env2). In the immunoblotting assay all the anti-g ag Mabs reacted with HIV capsid protein p24, whereas one of them react ed also with p55 protein and with 7 other polypeptides. Another anti-g ag Mab cross-reacted with the antigen of subpopulation of human periph eral blood lymphocytes. The third one interacted with the antigen of b oth HIV-1 and HIV-2. All the 10 Mabs interacted with natural HIV antig ens and can be used for identification and differentiation of HIV-1 an d HIV-2.