Characterization of monoclonal antibodies that distinguish simian immunodeficiency virus isolates from each other and from human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2.

Two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against p27 and one against p17 of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) from rhesus macaques were produced and characterized by reacting with disrupted, viral antigens on immunoblots. Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), HIV-2 and SIV isolates from sooty mangabey, stump-tailed macaque, rhesus macaque and African green monkey (SIVSM, SIVStM, SIVMAC and SIVAGM) were used for comparative analysis. The p27 monoclonal antibodies HE3 and FA2 reacted with SIVMAC and SIVSM, but not with HIV-1, HIV-2, SIVStM and SIVAGM. The p17 monoclonal antibodies reacted with SIVMAC and SIVStM, but not HIV-1, HIV-2, SIVSM and SIVAGM. The differential reactivity of these monoclonal antibodies indicated that common conserved antigenic epitopes are shared between SIVMAC and SIVSM with respect to p27 MAbs and between SIVMAC and SIVStM with respect to p17. Since these MAbs reacted differently with the SIV isolates, they are useful reagents for comparative pathogenesis studies for differentiating SIV isolates.