[Cross reactivity and amino acid structural homology of immunodominant peptide fragments of structural viruses from the human retroviruses HTLV-I, HTLV-II, HIV-1, and HIV-2].

Twelve synthetic peptides corresponding to 9 immunodominant regions of structural proteins of human retroviruses HTLV-I, HIV-1, and HIV-2 were studied in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for cross reactivity with heterotypical for each peptide anti-retroviral antibodies. The search of amino acid homologies was carried using the special computer program followed by the correspondence analysis of the discovered homologies and immunodominant fragments. It was found that peptides 100-130 p19 gag HTLV-I, 376-392 gp21 env HTLV-I, 381-400 gp21 env HTLV-I, 306-328 gp120 env HIV-1, 495-516 gp120 env HIV-1, 584-612 gp41 env HIV-1, and 581-603 gp36 env HIV-2 have type-specific reactivity and also cross react with 3-54% human sera containing antibodies against heterotypical retroviruses. On the other hand, peptides 120-130 p19 gag HTLV-I, 176-201 gp46 env HTLV-I, 291-312 gp46 env HTLV-I, 330-363 p24 gag HIV-1, and 602-624 gp41 env HIV-1 have shown no cross reactive properties; they may be effectively used for type-specific and differential serodiagnosis of human retroviral infections.