Tat HIV-1 Primary and Tertiary Structures Critical to Immune Response Against Non-homologous Variants

摘要: Clinical studies show that in the absence of anti-retroviral therapy an immune response against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), transacting transcriptional activator (Tat) protein correlates with long term non-progression. The purpose this study is to try understand what can trigger effective Tat. We used five Tat variants from HIV strains identified different parts world and showed mutations as much 38% exist without any change activity. Rabbit sera were raised rapid-progressor patients (Tat HXB2, a European variant Eli, African variant) non-progressor patient Oyi, inactive variant). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results anti-Tat Oyi serum had highest antibody titer was only one have broad heterologous variants. Surprisingly, HXB2 better recognized by compared serum. Western blots non-homologous antibodies directed conformational epitopes. This suggests primary tertiary structures are critical induction