       Document 0617
 DOCN  M9620617
 TI    [Production of HTLV-II env protein and its suppressive effect on
       infection]
 DT    9602
 AU    Kawamura N; Third Department of Internal Medicine, Hokkaido University
       School; of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
 SO    Hokkaido Igaku Zasshi. 1995 Jul;70(4):635-47. Unique Identifier :
       AIDSLINE MED/96080920
 AB    HTLV-II env protein, which cross-reacts with HTLV-I env, has been known
       to induce antibodies in infected individuals. In an attempt to suppress
       HTLV-II infection, we first generated HTLV-II env precursor glycoprotein
       (gp63) using baculovirus vector and the Sf-9 cell system. The production
       of antibodies to the cleaved env glycoprotein gp46 was verified by
       analysis of immunized rabbit sera as well as HTLV-II infected human sera
       using Western blotting. Moreover, the rabbit antibody was shown to
       suppress syncytial formation of the cells (Vines) infected with human
       T-cell leukemia virus type II (HTLV-II: HTLV-II-Vines). HTLV-II
       infection in rabbits was produced by intravenous injection of
       HTLV-II-Vines into female rabbits (New Zealand White). Antibody against
       HTLV-II could be detected by the 2nd week after inoculation, and its
       titer reached the maximum at the 10th week. Specific antibodies against
       env gp46 and gag p24 were detected in 2 of 2 rabbits and in 1 of 2 by
       Western blotting methods, respectively. Proviral DNA was detected by
       nested PCR, which was verified by Southern hybridization, at all times
       checked after inoculation, suggesting the persistence of infection,
       albeit at low levels. In the studies to determine if vaccination could
       protect against HTLV-II infection, rabbits were first immunized with the
       env protein, then were challenged by inoculation with HTLV-II-Vines as
       described above. Employing nested PCR, the provirus could not be
       detected at any time after challenge. The observation that active
       immunization could effectively protect rabbits from infection would seem
       to have important implications for equivalent vaccination of humans
       against both HTLV-I and HTLV-II.
 DE    Animal  Baculoviridae  Base Sequence  Cells, Cultured  English Abstract
       Female  Gene Products, env/*IMMUNOLOGY  Human  HTLV-II/*IMMUNOLOGY
       HTLV-II Antibodies  HTLV-II Infections/*PREVENTION & CONTROL  Molecular
       Sequence Data  Rabbits  Recombinant Proteins/IMMUNOLOGY  Vaccination
       JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

