Luba K. Vujcic

Detection of human immunodeficiency virus core protein in plasma by enzyme immunoassay. Association of antigenemia with symptomatic disease and T-helper cell depletion.

A sensitive enzyme immunoassay was developed for detecting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) core antigen. Assay sensitivity was 3.67 pmol/L of purified HIV core protein, and 1 or 100 in-vitro infectious units/mL of HIV in purified virus preparations or cell culture supernatants, respectively. Enzyme immunoassay sensitivity exceeded that of reverse transcriptase assay by 1000-fold. Core antigen was detected in whole plasma from 41% of symptomatic subjects and 13% of asymptomatic subjects seropositive for HIV. After plasma fractionation, antigenemia was found in 60% of symptomatic subjects and in 33% of asymptomatic subjects seropositive for HIV. Fifty-seven percent of samples from which HIV could be isolated in lymphocyte culture had detectable quantities of core antigen in plasma. However, at least 87% of samples with measurable antigen in plasma had HIV isolated from lymphocyte cultures. Antigenemia was associated with reduced T-cell number and symptomatic disease, and may be a useful marker for disease progression.

Evaluation of humoral immunity to varicella-zoster virus by an enhanced neutralization test and by the fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen test

SummaryAn antiglobulin-enhanced virus plaque neutralization test was more sensitive than the fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen (FAMA) test in detecting antibody to varicella-zoster virus. Postimmunization antibody titers were enhanced by antiglobulin more effectively than postinfection antibody titers.

HTLV-III/LAV particle-associated proteins: I. Virus purification, inactivation and basic characterization

Human T-lymphotropic virus type III/lymphadenopathy virus (HTLV- III/LAV) is the etiologic agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS),1-2 although cofactors may play a significant role in disease expression.5 Changes in social behavior may reduce the rate of AIDS transmission, but complete curtailment of the epidemic seems unlikely without immunological or pharmacological intervention. Much effort has been invested in the direct examination of the virus and its infection processes to elucidate promising strategies of intervention, one of which may be vaccination, Detailed information on HTLV-III/LAV components, especially proteins, should aid the rational design of vaccines by focusing attention on those viral constituents likely to induce protective immunity.