HIV BINDING TO ITS RECEPTOR CREATES SPECIFIC EPITOPES FOR THE CD4 GP120 COMPLEX/

Effective vaccines against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) must cope with the genetic variation of the viral envelope (gp120) to comb at or prevent acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Here we descr ibe novel epitopes that are accentuated when gp120 complexes with its receptor (CD4). The presentation of these epitopes results through con formational rearrangements in the CD4/gp120 complex. Monoclonal antibo dies directed to these epitopes inhibit syncytium formation, thus indi cating the potential use of these epitopes as subunit vaccines.