Vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus is correlated with the absence of high-affinity/avidity maternal antibodies to the gp120 principal neutralizing domain.
- 1 May 1990
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Vol. 87 (9) , 3445-3449
- https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.87.9.3445
Abstract
Many, but not all, infants born to mothers infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are infected in utero. We have now shown that mothers who have high-affinity/avidity antibodies directed toward the principal neutralizing domain (PND) of gp120 are less likely to transmit HIV to their children. An ELISA that preferentially measures the level of the biologically functioning, high-affinity/avidity antibodies against PND is described. In a retrospective study of 15 maternal/neonatal serum samples, the assay correctly identified the 4 unifected and the 11 HIV-infected infants. Other clinical and laboratory parameters such as p24 antigen, phytohemagglutinin mitogenic index, and absolute surface antigen T4+ cell counts did not accurately predict HIV fetal transmission. In addition to introducing a promising diagnostic tool, this study provides the in vivo evidence that protective antibodies may prevent infection by HIV.This publication has 24 references indexed in Scilit:
- MOTHER-TO-INFANT TRANSMISSION OF HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS TYPE 1: ASSOCIATION WITH PREMATURITY OR LOW ANTI-gp120The Lancet, 1989
- Diagnostic implication of specific immunoglobulin G patterns of children born to HIV-infected mothersAIDS, 1989
- A Prospective Study of Infants Born to Women Seropositive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1New England Journal of Medicine, 1989
- Perinatal Transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 to Infants of Seropositive Women in ZaireNew England Journal of Medicine, 1989
- Human immunodeficiency virus infection in childrenThe Journal of Pediatrics, 1989
- Enzymatic Gene Amplification: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods for Detecting Proviral DNA Amplified in VitroThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 1988
- Type-Restricted Neutralization of Molecular Clones of Human Immunodeficiency VirusScience, 1988
- INFANTS BORN TO MOTHERS SEROPOSITIVE FOR HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUSThe Lancet, 1987
- HTLV-III/LAV-Neutralizing Antibodies to an E. coli -Produced Fragment of the Virus EnvelopeScience, 1986
- The epidemiology of pediatric acquired immunodeficiency syndromeClinical Immunology and Immunopathology, 1986