AN IMMUNOASSAY WITH BOVINE SERUM-ALBUMIN COUPLED PEPTIDES FOR THE IMPROVED DETECTION OF ANTI V3 ANTIBODIES IN HIV-1 POSITIVE HUMAN SERA

The V3 loop of the gp120 envelope glycoprotein contains the principal neutralizing determinant of HIV-1. Many serological studies have been carried out to assess the reactivity of HIV-1 infected individuals aga inst V3 loop synthetic peptides from different HIV-1 subtypes. V3 dire cted serology has also been used to demonstrate the association betwee n ELISA reactivity and progression to AIDS in HIV patients, and to stu dy the reactivity against the V3 region in sera from vaccinated animal s and human volunteers. The advantage of the use of bovine serum album in (BSA) conjugated V3 peptides over free V3 peptides for ELISA is des cribed. 15 meric V3 peptides representing several HIV-1 isolates were synthesized, chemically coupled to BSA, and used to coat ELISA micropl ates. Conjugated peptides were compared with free peptides for the det ection of anti V3 antibodies in the sera from rabbits immunized with V 3 containing chimeric proteins and from HIV-1 infected individuals. No differences in reactivity against free or BSA-peptide were found for most rabbit sera, however human plasma recognized preferentially the B SA conjugated peptides. Although technically more complex, ELISA with BSA coupled V3 peptides is more sensitive and appropriate for serologi cal studies of HIV-1 infected persons. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.