Title:  Synthetic HIV-2 gag and env oligopeptides reactive with HIV-2 specific antibodies

United States Patent:  6,322,964

Assignee:  Genetic Systems Corporation (Seattle, WA); Institut Pasteur (Paris, FR)

Filed:  June 30, 1994

Peptide sequences are disclosed which immunologically mimic proteins encoded by the env and gag regions of LAV-2, a retrovirus associated with AIDS. The peptide can be used in various specific binding assays to detect the presence of antibodies to LAV-2 in individuals previously exposed to the virus. The peptides enable one to distinguish the presence of antibodies to LAV-2 from antibodies to HIV-1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Peptide sequences capable of immunologically mimicking proteins encoded in the env and gag regions of the LAV-2 retrovirus are provided as reagents for use in the screening of blood and blood products for prior exposure to the retrovirus. The peptides are at least five amino acids in length and can be used in various specific binding assays for the detection of antibodies to LAV-2 virus, for the detection of LAV-2 antigens, or as immunogens. Peptides described in the examples enable one to distinguish the presence of antibodies in a body fluid to LAV-2 from antibodies to HIV-1.

One peptide (41-2-1) described herein has the following amino acid sequence:

Y_n -Arg-Val-Thr-Ala-Ile-Glu-Lys-Tyr-Leu-Gln-Asp-Gln-Ala-Arg-Leu-Asn-Ser-Trp-G ly-Cys-Ala-Phe-Arg-Gln-Val-Cys-Y'_n'

in which

Y and Y' each comprises one or more amino acid residues; and

n and n' each comprises an integer of at least 0.

Another peptide (41-2-2) described herein has the following amino acid sequence:

Y_n -Ser-Lys-Ser-Leu-Glu-Gln-Ala-Gln-Ile-Gln-Gln-Glu-Lys-Asn-Nor-Tyr-Glu-Leu-G ln-Lys-Leu-Asn-Ser-Trp-Asp-Y'_n'

in which Y and Y' each comprises one or more amino acid residues, and n and n' each comprises an integer of at least 0.

Another peptide (25-2-2) from the gag region described herein has the following amino acid sequence:

Y_n -Asp-Cys-Lys-Leu-Val-Leu-Lys-Gly-Leu-Gly-Nor-Asn-Pro-Thr-Leu-Glu-Gln-Nor-L eu-Thr-Ala-Cys-Y'_n'

in which Y and Y', each represents one or more amino acid residues; and n and n' each are integers of at least 0.

Claim 1 of 12 Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A peptide consisting of the following HIV-2 sequence:

Lys-Cys-Val-Arg-Met-Tyr-Asn-Pro-Thr-Asn-Ile-Leu-Asp-Ile-Lys-Gln-Gly-Pro-Lys -Glu-Pro-Phe-Gln-Ser-Tyr-Val-Asp-Arg-Phe-Tyr-Lys-Ser-Leu-Arg-Glu-Gln-Thr-As p-Pro-Ala-Val-Lys,

or an antigenic fragment of said peptide, wherein the peptide or antigenic fragment is immunologically reactive with antibodies to HIV-2.

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