OBJECTIVETo develop a rapid assay for simultaneous detection of HIV p24 antigen (Ag) and anti-HIV antibody (Ab).

METHODSHIV-1 gp41 antigen and HIV-2 gp36 antigen were expressed by recombinant baculovirus insect system and purified by immunochromatography. p24 monoclonal antibody (mAb) was obtained from p24 hybridoma cell line. Purified antigen and mAb were dot blotted to nitrocellular membrane; 20 nm colloidal gold-anti-human IgG ab and p24 ab complex were used for this test. Previously detected 39 sera specimens were tested in this study to compare with the result of HIV test with commercial HIV test kit.

RESULTS20 mg/L purified gp41 Ag and gp36 Ag were obtained from recombinant baculovirus-insect cell system; 1.5 mg/L p24 mAb was obtained from p24 mAb hybridoma cell line. Compared the test result of 39 sera with commercial HIV test kits, consistency rate was 100%.

CONCLUSIONSThe rapid assay for simultaneous detection of HIV p24 antigen and anti-HIV antibody provides a simple, sensitive and reliable test for HIV diagnosis.

AIDS Serodiagnosis ; Gene Products, env ; biosynthesis ; isolation & purification ; HIV Antibodies ; blood ; HIV Antigens ; biosynthesis ; isolation & purification ; HIV Core Protein p24 ; blood ; HIV Envelope Protein gp41 ; biosynthesis ; isolation & purification ; HIV Infections ; diagnosis ; HIV-1 ; immunology ; HIV-2 ; immunology ; Humans ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; standards ; env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Complete HIV-1 env genes were amplified by nested PCR from uncultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) DNA of 60 HIV-1 positive paid blood donors in Henan province, and the amplified full-length genes were sequenced. Twenty one full-length env genes were obtained, sequence analysis found that 15 of them had intact open reading frame (ORF). Fourteen sequences conformed to subtype B', their average genetic distance with the international reference sequence RL42 was 4.87% +/- 0.31%. One was subtype B, its genetic distance with the international reference sequence HXB2 was 5.43%. The amino acid sequences of these env genes were deduced according to their nucleotide sequences and extensive analysis and comparison of important structural motifs were performed. The results indicated that there was no drastic alteration in the number and position of potential N-linked glycosylation sites among these 15 sequences. And the residues involved in forming the CD4 binding site were highly conserved. Genotype prediction of coreceptor usage based on V3 sequence and net charge suggested that most samples use CCR5 coreceptor. GPGR motif at the tetrapeptide crown in the V3 loop was most common in these samples and it was detected in 40% sequences. The cleavage site of gp120/gp41 was highly conserved, so Gp160 precursor of all isolates would be efficiently cleaved into the Gp120 and Gp41 subunits. The known neutralizing antibody binding sites for 2G12, IgG1b12, 4E10 and 2F5 were also highly conserved, it is expected that most of these isolates will be sensitive to neutralization by these antibodies. Further study to elucidate the correlation of the env genotype to functionally relevant motifs is necessary and that will aid vaccine and novel drug design.
Base Sequence ; Blood Donors ; supply & distribution ; CD4 Antigens ; metabolism ; China ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Conserved Sequence ; HIV Envelope Protein gp120 ; genetics ; HIV-1 ; genetics ; Humans ; Receptors, CCR5 ; chemistry ; genetics ; env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus ; chemistry ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the subtype distribution and the prevalence of sequence characteristics of HIV-1 strains in Beijing residents during 2006 and to analyze the relationship between distribution of HIV-1 subtypes and transmission routines.

METHODSBlood samples from 32 new confirmed HIV-1 infected individuals from Beijing residents in 2006 and separated plasma specimens were collected. RNAs were extracted and the gag and env gene were amplified by RT-PCR and nest-PCR. PCR products were sequenced directly and phylogenetic analyses of gag and env gene were performed using the MEGA2 software.

RESULTSAmong 32 HIV-1 plasma samples, 22 gag and 4 env gene fragments were amplified and analyzed. Five HIV-1 subtypes or circulating recombinant forms(CRFs) of HIV-1 including Thai B (2 strains), B (9 strains), C (2 strains), CRF07_BC (5 strains), CRF01 AE (4 strains) were identified being circulated in Beijing. The gene divergences of gag gene inside the subtypes were 6.6%, 4.3%, 6.8%, 4.9% and 3.0% in subtype B, Thai B, C, CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC respectively. Subtypes B were predominant in Beijing, accounted for 40.9% among 22 samples.

CONCLUSIONFive HIV-1 subtypes were identified in Beijing and the surveillance of HIV-1 gene variation should be paid more attention to.

China ; HIV-1 ; classification ; genetics ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus ; genetics ; gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus ; genetics

BACKGROUNDConstruction of replication-deficient recombinant adenovirus expressing gag-pol and env genes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in mice.

METHODSgag-polDelta and gp140TM genes were cloned into shuttle vector pAdTrack-CMV respectively, and then the plasmids containing gag-polDelta or gp140TM gene were cotransformed with the backbone of adenovirus into E.coli BJ5183. Transfections of the recombinants were performed to obtain recombinant adenoviruses. Its immunogenicity was evaluated by testing antibody levels of mice primed with DNA vaccines and boosted with recombinant adenoviruses.

RESULTSThe replication-deficient recombinant adenovirus could express Gp140TM, Gag P55 and P24 proteins correctly. The mice primed with DNA vaccines and boosted with recombinant adenoviruses elicited high titer of HIV-1-specific antibody compared with that inoculated with DNA vaccines only.

CONCLUSIONReplication-deficient recombinant adenovirus expressing gag-polDelta and gp140TM can elicit high titer HIV-1-specific antibodies.

AIDS Vaccines ; immunology ; Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Female ; Fusion Proteins, gag-pol ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Gene Products, env ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; HIV-1 ; genetics ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Recombination, Genetic ; Transfection ; Vaccines, DNA ; immunology ; env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

OBJECTIVETo understand the evolution of HIV-1 CRF07_BC envelope, we performed a longitudinal study on two patients during their early HIV-1 infection.

METHODSRNA was extracted from the plasma of the individuals and the C2-C5 fragments of the gp120 gene of HIV-1 were amplified by RT-PCR. Purified DNA segments were inserted into T easy vector and transformed into E. coli Top 10 competent cells. Positive clones were identified by blue-white screening, confirmed by PCR and sequenced by ABI 3700.

RESULTSThe samples were collected from the patients every 6 months from seroconversion time. The genetic diversity and divergence in env gene showed consistent increases over time. Our sequence analysis also revealed obvious non-synonymous change in env C1, C3 and V4 regions among these samples.

CONCLUSIONThe results support the concept that the consistent pattern of viral evolution existed during early phase of HIV-1 infection. C1, C3 and V4 region of env gene may be mainly immunological target during AIDS progression.

Adult ; Genetic Variation ; HIV Infections ; virology ; HIV-1 ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus ; genetics

To find out whether the mutations of HIV-1 Env have influence on the assembly of pseudovirus and their abilities to infect cells, site-directed mutation (A457D)was performed using cycling mutagenesis and selection of mutants with DpnI. Transformation and plasmid purification technologies were used to obtain mutated env clone. Then both the prototype and the mutant were co-transfected with pSG3(delta(env)) to 293FT cells, respectively. Single-cycle infection assay was employed to analyze the effect of the prototype and the mutant on the ability of functional pseudovirus assembly. The transient expression of both the prototype S12-42-1 and mutant S12-42M were confirmed by Western blot essay. The S/CO value was less than 1 for S12-42-1 and 6.65 for S12-42M, demonstrating the functional pseudovirus was generated only for S12-42M. So mutation on HIV-1 Env has influence on the assembly of pseudovirus and their abilities to infect cells.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Cell Line ; HIV Infections ; virology ; HIV-1 ; chemistry ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Sequence Alignment ; Virion ; genetics ; physiology ; Virus Assembly ; env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism

Based on the computer simulation, we analyzed hydrophobicity, potential epitope of recombined subtypes HIV-1 Env protein (851 amino acids) from Guangxi in China. Compared with conservative peptides of other subtypes in env protein, three sequences (469-511aa, 538-674aa, 700-734aa) were selected to recombine into a chimeric gene that codes three conservative epitope peptides with stronger antigencity, and was constructed in the yeast expression plasmid pPICZB. Chimeric proteins were expressed in Pichia pastoris under the induction of methanol, and were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Westernblot. The results showed that fusion proteins of three-segment antigen were expressed in Pichia pastoris and that specific protein band at the site of 40kD was target protein, which is interacted with HIV-1 serum. The target proteins were purified by metal Ni-sepharose 4B, and were demonstrated to possess good antigenic specificity from the data of ELISA. This chimeric antigen may be used as research and developed into HIV diagnostic reagents.
Blotting, Western ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral ; HIV Seronegativity ; immunology ; HIV Seropositivity ; immunology ; HIV-1 ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Pichia ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo understand the relationship between the HIV-1 viral sequence variation and host factors associated with HIV-1 disease progression.

METHODSEnv and gag fragments of HIV-1 were amplified with PCR, cloned and sequenced. Bioinformatics was employed to find the genetic variation, N-linked glycosylation, hypermutation etc. Host gene polymorphism was analysed by using restricted fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).

RESULTSSignificant difference was found in genetic divergence between Env PCR dominant and clonal sequences (0.1 and 0.06, respectively) in non-treated group, but no significant difference was found in the HAART treated group. V3 GPGQ accounted for the most part in both treated and nontreated groups, rare V3 loop such as GPGH, GQGR and GLGR was found in treated group, V3 substitutions of I/V (position 12) and Y/H (position 21) was associated with the relatively rapid progression (RRP). Glycosylation was significantly higher in RRP than in TP for Env region, GA substitution in RRP was also significantly higher than that in TP group. SDF1-3primeA and CCR2 V64I gene frequency was higher in TP than in RRP, but the difference was not significant.

CONCLUSIONDisease progression was associated with V3 AA change, glycosylation and GA substitution in env gene. SDF1-3primeA, CCR2 V64I and CX3CR1 V249I/M280T was not associated with disease progression significantly.

Adult ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Genetic Variation ; Glycosylation ; HIV Infections ; pathology ; virology ; HIV-1 ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Chemokine ; genetics ; env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus ; genetics ; metabolism ; gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus ; genetics ; metabolism

PURPOSE: The third variable (V3) loop of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein has been intensively studied for AIDS vaccine development. Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is widely used to immunize against tuberculosis and has many advantages as a vaccine vehicle, such as low toxicity, adjuvant potential, low cost, and long-lasting immune-inducing capacity. This work was initiated to investigate the immunogenicity of recombinant BCG (rBCG-mV3) designed to express trimeric HIV-1 V3 loop (mV3) in rBCG-mV3-immunized animals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HIV-1 V3-concatamer was cloned into pMV261, a BCG-expression vector, and then rBCG-mV3 was constructed by introducing the recombinant plasmid (pMV-V3). The recombinant BCG was examined with regard to its expression of V3-concatamer and the genetic stability in vivo and in vitro. The immune responses induced by recombinant BCG were tested in immunized mice and guinea pigs. RESULTS: The rBCG-mV3 expressed detectable amounts of V3-concatamer when induced by single heat-shock. The recombinant BCG was genetically stable and maintained the introduced mV3 gene for several weeks. V3-specific antibodies were clearly detected 6 weeks after inoculation. The antibody titer rapidly increased after immunization up to 10 weeks, and then maintained for over 4 weeks. IgG2a was prevalent in the V3-specific antiserum. The recombinant BCG was also effective in inducing delayed-type hypersensitivity responses in the immunized guinea pigs. rBCG-immunized mice retained substantial amounts of V3-specific T cells in the spleen, even 5 months after the first immunization. CONCLUSION: Recombinant BCG-mV3 is very efficient in inducing humoral and long-lasting cell-mediated immunity against HIV-1 V3 in the immunized animals.
AIDS Vaccines/genetics/*immunology ; Animals ; BCG Vaccine/genetics/*immunology ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; HIV-1/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular/genetics/*immunology ; Immunity, Humoral/genetics/*immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus/genetics/*immunology

PURPOSE: The third variable (V3) loop of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein has been intensively studied for AIDS vaccine development. Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is widely used to immunize against tuberculosis and has many advantages as a vaccine vehicle, such as low toxicity, adjuvant potential, low cost, and long-lasting immune-inducing capacity. This work was initiated to investigate the immunogenicity of recombinant BCG (rBCG-mV3) designed to express trimeric HIV-1 V3 loop (mV3) in rBCG-mV3-immunized animals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HIV-1 V3-concatamer was cloned into pMV261, a BCG-expression vector, and then rBCG-mV3 was constructed by introducing the recombinant plasmid (pMV-V3). The recombinant BCG was examined with regard to its expression of V3-concatamer and the genetic stability in vivo and in vitro. The immune responses induced by recombinant BCG were tested in immunized mice and guinea pigs. RESULTS: The rBCG-mV3 expressed detectable amounts of V3-concatamer when induced by single heat-shock. The recombinant BCG was genetically stable and maintained the introduced mV3 gene for several weeks. V3-specific antibodies were clearly detected 6 weeks after inoculation. The antibody titer rapidly increased after immunization up to 10 weeks, and then maintained for over 4 weeks. IgG2a was prevalent in the V3-specific antiserum. The recombinant BCG was also effective in inducing delayed-type hypersensitivity responses in the immunized guinea pigs. rBCG-immunized mice retained substantial amounts of V3-specific T cells in the spleen, even 5 months after the first immunization. CONCLUSION: Recombinant BCG-mV3 is very efficient in inducing humoral and long-lasting cell-mediated immunity against HIV-1 V3 in the immunized animals.
AIDS Vaccines/genetics/*immunology ; Animals ; BCG Vaccine/genetics/*immunology ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; HIV-1/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular/genetics/*immunology ; Immunity, Humoral/genetics/*immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus/genetics/*immunology