Use of a resin-bound synthetic peptide for identifying a neutralizing antigenic determinant associated with the human immunodeficiency virus envelope.

A polyamide-based solid-phase support containing an acid-stable p-(oxymethyl)benzoic acid handle to anchor the COOH-terminal amino acid was utilized in the production of synthetic peptides analogous to amino acid sequences 503-532 from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope glycoprotein. The resin-bound peptide was used to induce an antibody response to the native form of glycoprotein 120 in both rabbits and mice. This epitope was detected on the surface of HIV-infected cells and was capable of inducing an in vitro neutralizing HIV antibody response. In addition, sera from some individuals exposed to HIV react with this peptide bound to the resin in a solid-phase immunoassay. These data indicate that we have identified a neutralizing antigenic determinant present on the amino-terminal glycoprotein 120 subunits of HIV by utilizing resin-bound synthetic peptides.