"Epitope Insertion Into Variable Loops of HIV-1 gp120 as a Potential Means to Improve Immunogenicity of Viral Envelope Protein."

According to the authors' abstract of an article published in Vaccine, "We report on the properties of a set of HIV-1 IIIB Env mutants carrying a linear gp41 epitope insertion (LLELDKWASL) in the V1, V2, V3 or V4 variable loop. Insertion of the epitope, which is defined by the HIV-I neutralizing MAb 2F5, was well tolerated in the V1, V2, and V4 loops, as these mutants were properly expressed, retained reactivity to conformation-dependent monoclonal antibodies and exhibited patterns similar to the parental Env molecule. However, insertion of this epitope in the V3 loop was associated with drastically reduced protein expression. Relative to parental Env molecule, the V1, V2, and V4...

Want to see the full article?

• Purchase this article for only $3.00