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HIV type 1 subtype E-infected patients with broadened,
duel (B/E) V3 loop serology have increased
cross-neutralizing antibodies.
AIDS Research & Human Retroviruses 2001;17(1):69-79.
Polonis VR,
DeSouza MS, Chambancherd P, Chantakulkij S, Jugsudee A, Loomis-Price LD, Vancott
TC, Garner R, Markowitz LE, Brown AE, Birx DL.
Abstract
The two prevalent subtypes of HIV-1 circulating in Thailand are subtypes E
and B. While the most prevalent subtype continues to be E using molecular typing
assays, immunologically, a subset of subtype E-infected patients (3.4% in 1997)
have binding antibodies to both the E and B V3 loops in a peptide ELISA. To
assess the potential function of this dual (B/E) V3 reactivity, plasmas from
patients with genetically defined HIV-1 subtype E infection and either E or
B/E V3 serotypes were compared for magnitude and breadth of neutralization
of seven primary and laboratory-adapted subtype B and E viruses. Dually reactive
(B/E) plasmas showed significantly increased cross-neutralizing activity against
subtype B viruses (p < 0.001), and increased neutralization of the panel
of viruses overall (p < 0.02), as compared to monoreactive E serotype plasmas.
While the total envelope binding antibody titers to both subtype B and E envelopes
did not differ significantly between the E and B/E plasmas, 67% of B/E plasmas
neutralized >50% of the viruses in the panel, and only 14% of E plasmas
showed this broadened neutralizing activity. These data suggest that dual (B/E)
V3 loop reactivity may be a marker of broader immune recognition of HIV envelope
epitopes in subtype E-infected patients. V3 loop antibody, perhaps in conjunction
with antibodies to additional epitopes, may play a role in neutralization of
virus isolates from Thailand.