Kaleebu P, Cheingsong-Popov R, Katabira E, Biryahwaho B, Downing R, Sempala S, Weber J; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1990 Jun 20-23; 6: 153 (abstract no. S.A.285).
Dept of Infectious Diseases, Royal Postgraduate Med School, London W12, UK
OBJECTIVE: To study the quantitative immune responses to HIV gag and env antigens and the prevalence of p24 antigenaemia (p24Ag) at different clinical stages of HIV-1 infection in Uganda. METHODS: 1092 cross-sectional sera from Ugandan subjects infected by or at risk of HIV-1, and at different clinical stages of infection, were examined for antibodies to p24 (gag) and gp120 (env) using in-house assays and recombinant antigens; antigen capture assays were developed using African HIV isolates. P24 antigen was sought by DuPont assay; immune complexes were prepared, disrupted, and examined for presence of viral antigens. RESULTS: Anti-p24 abs are maintained in 93% of all subjects, irrespective of clinical status; quantitation of anti-p24 shows that AIDS patients have significantly lower median anti-p24 antibody titres compared to asymptomatic subjects (p=0.05). P24Ag was found in 13/261 (5%), and no increase seen in immune complexes. CONCLUSION: Although p24Ag and complete loss of anti-p24Ab is uncommon in African sera, this study shows a reduction of anti-p24 titre with more advanced clinical stage. Neither presence of non-specific anti-p24, nor use of African HIV isolates, explains the African serological pattern, which may reflect shorter duration of HIV infection before stage IV disease occurs.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Antigens, Viral
- Genes, env
- Genes, gag
- HIV
- HIV Antibodies
- HIV Antigens
- HIV Envelope Protein gp120
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- HIV-1
- Humans
- Prevalence
- Uganda
- genetics
- immunology
Other ID:
UI: 102196080
From Meeting Abstracts