Cross-reactivity of monoclonal antibodies to a chimeric V3 peptide of HIV-1 with peptide analogues studied by biosensor technology and ELISA

The reactivity of monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) raised against a cyclic peptide representing a chimeric V3 loop of HIV-1 gp120 with different peptide analogues was studied with a biosensor system (BIAcore) and by ELISA. In both assays, the Mabs cross-reacted extensively with the V3 regions of different HIV-1 strains and recognized the cyclic form of the peptide immunogen better than its linear form. The highest degree of cross-reactivity was observed with peptides that shared a Lys 312 with the chimeric sequence. Dissociation rate constants of ten Mabs measured with the BIAcore with respect to different peptides increased with increasing numbers of substitutions in the flanking regions of the V3 tip sequence Gly Pro Gly Arg. Immobilization of the cyclic peptide on the sensor chip via a thiol group added near the end of the loop structure preserved the conformation of the peptide. In view of the good correlation between the BIAcore and ELISA results, biosensor data should be useful for selecting peptides to be used in diagnostic solid phase assays.