Patent ID: 6291157
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: A61K,C07K,C12N,C12Q,G01N

Abstract:
A method of determining the presence of antibodies specifically reactive with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) retroviral antigens in a sample, comprising the steps of:(a) obtaining and preparing a sample suspected of containing HIV specific antibodies,(b) contacting the sample of step (a) with a non-infectious, non-replicating, immunogenic HIV-like particle as antigen under conditions which permit binding of antibody to antigen and the formation of an antigen-antibody immune complexwherein said particle contains a heterologous antigenic anchor sequence and comprises an assembly of:(i) a gag gene product;(ii) a pol gene product; and(iii) a modified env gene product comprising a non-retroviral, heterologous, antigenic, anchor sequence, wherein said anchor sequence replaces the endogenous anchoring functions of the env gene product;wherein said particle is encoded by a modified HIV genome deficient in long terminal repeats (LTRs), containing the gag, pol and env genes in their natural genomic arrangement, and a heterologous nucleic acid insert encoding said heterologous antigenic anchor sequence, wherein said sequence, when presented in the context of the retrovirus-like particle is capable of generating an immune response specific to said antigenic anchor sequence when the particle is administered to a host;(c) detecting said immune complex formation.