Weiss R A, Clapham P R, Weber J N, Dalgleish A G, Lasky L A, Berman P W
Nature. 1986;324(6097):572-5. doi: 10.1038/324572a0.
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1, HTLV-III/LAV), the retrovirus responsible for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), shows a high degree of genetic polymorphism, particularly in the env gene. We have examined sera from rabbits and guinea pigs immunized with gp130, a recombinant env glycoprotein, and sera from HIV-1-infected subjects, to test their capacity to neutralize a panel of genetically divergent HIV-1 isolates. The sera raised against recombinant antigen specifically neutralized the virus strain from which the env gene was cloned (HTLV-IIIB), but not an independent isolate (HTLV-IIIRF). One rabbit serum tested on seven isolates cross-neutralized two at lower titres. In contrast, human sera from Britain and Uganda, chosen for ability to neutralize HTLV-IIIRF, cross-neutralized six other HIV-1 isolates. When serum and isolate were derived from the same subject, the serum was in some cases effective at slightly lower concentrations (higher titres). Human complement did not affect neutralization titres. These findings indicate that genetically diverse HIV-1 isolates carry both variable and widely conserved antigenic epitopes for neutralizing antibodies. The identification of shared epitopes may help the development of protective vaccines.
1型人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV-1，即HTLV-III/LAV）是导致获得性免疫缺陷综合征（AIDS）的逆转录病毒，它表现出高度的基因多态性，尤其是在env基因中。我们检测了用重组env糖蛋白gp130免疫的兔和豚鼠的血清，以及HIV-1感染个体的血清，以测试它们中和一组基因不同的HIV-1分离株的能力。针对重组抗原产生的血清特异性中和了克隆env基因的病毒株（HTLV-IIIB），但不能中和一个独立的分离株（HTLV-IIIRF）。在七种分离株上检测的一份兔血清以较低滴度交叉中和了其中两种。相比之下，因能够中和HTLV-IIIRF而被挑选出来的英国和乌干达的人血清交叉中和了其他六种HIV-1分离株。当血清和分离株来自同一受试者时，血清在某些情况下在稍低浓度（更高滴度）时有效。人补体不影响中和滴度。这些发现表明，基因不同的HIV-1分离株带有可变的和广泛保守的中和抗体抗原表位。共同表位的鉴定可能有助于保护性疫苗的开发。
