Genetic Systems Corporation

Susan McArdle

Wesley Loren Cosand

Susan M Watanabe

Pamela J Ward

Bruce M Travis

Immunologically reactive gag proteins of LAV/HTLV-III are expressed in bacterial cells. The gag proteins are encoded by a recombinant plasmid containing procaryotic transcriptional and translational signals for expression, followed downstream by a DNA sequence comprising pGAG-1. Preferred signals for expression are selected from an inducible and/or suppressible operon, such as the trp operon. The gag proteins are isolated from the bacterial host and are utilized in diagnostic assays which detect the presence of LAV/HTLV-III antigens or antibodies immunologically reactive with LAV/HTLV-III. Further, the proteins produced by the method disclosed may be used as a vaccine against infection by the causative virus for acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Expression and diagnostic use of GAG-1 encoded peptides which are

Immunologically reactive gag proteins of LAV are expresesed in bacterial cells. The gag proteins are encoded by a recombinant plasmid containing procaryotic transcriptional and translational signals for expression, followed downstream by a DNA sequence comprising a portion of the gag region of LAV. Preferred signals for expression are selected from an inducible and/or suppressible operon, such as the trp operon. The gag proteins are isolated from the bacterial host and are utilized in diagonstic assays which detect the presence of LAV antigens or antibodies immunologically reactive with LAV. Further, the proteins produced by the method disclosed may be used as a vaccine against infection by the caustive virus for acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Expression and diagnostic use of gag encoded peptides which are

A method of expressing peptides which are immunologically reactive with antibodies to LAV is disclosed. The peptides are produced by bacterial host cells transformed with a recombinant plasmid which includes appropriate procaryotic transcriptional and translational signals for expression, followed by a DNA sequence coding for a peptide comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in FIG. 5 starting with isoleucine, number 1, and ending with threonine, number 173. The peptides of the present invention are immunologically reactive with antibodies to LAV, or antibodies to viruses defined to be the same as or equivalent to LAV. The peptides produced by the method disclosed may be used to screen for the presence of antibodies to LAV in a biological fluid, to determine the presence of LAV antigen in a biological fluid, or within a method for producing antibodies to LAV through the immunization of an animal with the peptide. Further, the pNEV-3 encoded peptides may be used as a vaccine against infection by the causative virus for acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Susan McArdle