Simple enzyme immunoassay for titration of antibodies to the CD4-binding site of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp120.

We report the development of an immunoassay for the titration of antibody to the CD4-binding site (CD4BS) of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) surface glycoprotein gp120. This assay is a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in which serum antibodies compete with labeled F105, a human monoclonal antibody whose corresponding epitope overlaps the conformation-dependent CD4BS, for binding to purified recombinant gp120 coated on a solid phase. Ninety-nine percent (109 of 110) of HIV-1-positive French patients and 91% (51 of 56) of HIV-1-positive African patients had CD4BS antibodies, indicating that the conformational CD4BS epitope is well conserved among different subtypes of HIV-1. Titers of CD4BS antibodies according to clinical status appeared to be not statistically different. A longitudinal study in 21 seroconverters showed that, for the majority of individuals, CD4BS antibodies appeared early and persisted at relatively high titers for several years. None of 21 HIV-2-seropositive patients had CD4BS antibodies in our assay, suggesting that the antibodies produced during HIV-2 infection are not cross-reactive with the CD4BS of HIV-1 gp120.