Mapping of a new immunodominant human linear B-cell epitope on the vpu protein of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1
Article Abstract:
A new human epitope on the vpu protein of HIV was mapped. Epitopes are the sites on proteins that are recognized by antibodies. vpu is one of nine known proteins coded for by HIV. vpu is found in membranous structures within the infected cell and increases the release of virus particles from the cell. One other epitope, or antibody-binding region, was mapped on the vpu protein. Using a random fragment expression library, the new epitope was mapped to the region of the protein between amino acids 37 through 50. Of 356 blood samples from HIV-infected patients, 125 (35.1%) tested positive for the presence of antibodies to the epitope. The presence of antibodies that reacted with the new epitope was significantly higher in patients with CD4 T-cell counts of less than 400 cells per microliter than in patients with CD4 T-cell counts greater than that. CD4 T-cell counts generally drop as the disease progresses.
Publication Name: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0894-9255
Year: 1993
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Chromosome studies in HTLV-I, -II, and HIV-1, -2 cell lines infected with in vivo and in vitro
Article Abstract:
Different types of chromosomal changes may occur in cells infected with human T cell lymphotrophic virus (HTLV) or HIV. HTLV and HIV are both retroviruses, and they both infect T cells. A chromosomal study was done of cells infected with HTLV-I, HTLV-II, HIV-1 and HIV-2. Cells infected with HTLV had multiple types of chromosomal changes. A high incidence of abnormalities occurred in a specific region of chromosome 6. Cells infected with HTLV-2 had abnormalities that affected chromosomes 20 and 21. In the cells infected with HIV-1, chromosomal abnormalities occurred most often in chromosome 17. A high incidence of chromosomal changes also occurred in chromosomes 3 and 21 in the cells infected with HIV-1. Cells infected with HIV-2 did not have any unique chromosomal changes.
Publication Name: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0894-9255
Year: 1993
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