Induction of monoclonal antibody with predefined ELNKWA epitope specificity by epitope vaccine

Since the hybridoma technique to produce monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) was d iscovered, thousands of MAbs with predefined protein specificity have been produced, and a natural or recombinant protein as antigen is necessary for inducing MAbs in the conventional hybridoma technique. To induce epitope-sp ecific MAbs, we suggest an epitope vaccine as a new technique to induce MAb s with predefined epitope specificity. ELDKWA was identified as an importan t neutralizing epitope on HIV-1 gp41, The MAb 2F5, recognizing ELDKWA epito pe, has shown broad neutralizing activity to many HIV strains, including pr imary isolates, but the mutant in ELNKWA epitope results in escape 2F5-base d neutralization. To produce MAbs recognizing this mutated epitope for cons ideration of passive immunotherapy against the mutant bearing the ELNKWA ep itope, MAbs with predefined ELNKWA epitope specificity were induced by synt hetic epitope-peptide instead of a natural or recombinant gp41 bearing this eptope, Three MAbs were identified to recognize ELNKWA epitope on the synt hetic epitope-peptide, and interestingly could bind the recombinant gp41,vi th ELDKWA epitope in an ELISA assay and immunoblotting analysis.