Monoclonal antibodies to gp110 and gp41 of human immunodeficiency virus.

Six mouse hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies specific for the glycoproteins of human immunodeficiency virus were developed. All six antibodies reacted by radioimmunoprecipitation with the glycoprotein precursor of 150,000 daltons as well as one of the proteolytic processing products of 110,000 daltons (gp110) or 41,000 daltons (gp41). Recombinant polypeptides spanning the env coding region were used to locate epitopes on the glycoprotein molecule. The panel of antibodies detected two distinct epitopes of gp41 and one epitope of gp110. We used the antibodies in indirect immunofluorescence assays to evaluate 13 clinical isolates of human immunodeficiency virus from diverse geographic regions, and we found that the gp110 epitope was recognized on all tested isolates, whereas the two gp41 epitopes were detected on 10 of 13 and 4 of 13 isolates.