Identification of a neutralization epitope on the envelope gp46 antigen of human T cell leukemia virus type I and induction of neutralizing antibody by peptide immunization.

We have generated a number of mAb against various epitopes on the external envelope glycoprotein, gp46, of human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) from a WKA rat immunized with a recombinant vaccinia virus containing the HTLV-I env gene. Among these mAb, one group of mAb, represented by a mAb designated LAT-27, could neutralize the infectivity of HTLV-I, as determined by a HTLV-I-mediated cell fusion inhibition assay. LAT-27 also interfered with transformation of normal T lymphocytes by HTLV-I in vitro. An antibody-binding assay using overlapping synthetic oligopeptides showed that LAT-27 bound specifically to 10-mer peptides that contained the gp46 amino acid sequence 191-196 (Leu-Pro-His-Ser-Asn-Leu). Antibodies from HTLV-I+ humans interfered with the binding of LAT-27 to gp46 Ag. Sera from rabbits immunized with a LAT-27-reactive peptide, 190-199, conjugated with OVA, but not sera from OVA-immunized rabbits, reacted with gp46 Ag and neutralized infectivity of HTLV-I. These results show that the HTLV-I neutralization epitope recognized by LAT-27 locates to the gp46 amino acids 191-196, and that immunization with a peptide containing the LAT-27 epitope can elicit an HTLV-I neutralizing antibody response.