The Institute for Human Genetics and Biochemistry

Toby C Rodman

Disclosed herein are hydridoma cell lines producing monoclonal human natural IgM antibodies and methods of use thereof. The antibodies are the monoclonal equivalents of circulating human natural antibodies. Also disclosed herein are pharmaceutical formulations and methods for treating HIV-1 infected individuals using the monoclonal human natural antibodies.

Monoclonal human natural antibodies

Disclosed herein are method for producing hydridoma cell lines producing monoclonal human natural IgM antibodies and hybridoma cells produced by the methods. The antibodies are the monoclonal equivalents of circulating human natural antibodies.

The present invention is directed to protamine-reactive, IgM antibodies, and their uses in prognosis, diagnosis, and therapy. In a specific embodiment, the invention relates to low affinity binding, protamine-reactive serum IgM antibodies. In particular, such antibodies can recognize a sequence comprising four arginyl residues, including a triplet, within a six amino acid residue sequence. Such antibodies may be natural antibodies (i.e., not induced). A low affinity subset of serum protamine-reactive IgM antibodies may be assayed for prognosis or diagnosis of AIDS. Such antibodies are detectable in sera of normal subjects and HIV-infected individuals who subsequently exhibit a significant period of latency, but are absent or deficient in sera of individuals diagnosed with AIDS and sera of HIV infected individuals, who though asymptomatic at the time of the sampling, proceed to AIDS within a relatively short time. The invention provides methods and diagnostic kits for the detection and/or measurement of the low affinity subset of protamine-reactive serum IgM antibodies, for the prognosis and diagnosis of AIDS and other immune system abnormalities.

Protamine-reactive IGM antibodies

An isolated human natural IgM antibody immunoreactive with an epitope present on HIV-1 Tat protein is provided. Additionally, a method for the prognosis or diagnosis of AIDS in an individual infected with HIV including the steps of:

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Toby C Rodman