1st International AIDS Conference Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. - April 14-17, 1985

Int Conf AIDS. 1985 Apr 14-17;1:28 Abstract No. S9I

Lawrence S. Kaminsky, C. Foxall, and J. A. Levy

We have developed a highly sensitive indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA) for detection of antibodies to the AIDS-associated retroviruses (ARV). It uses HUT-78 cells infected with ARV-2 which grows to high titer in these cells. Our results indicate that all patients with AIDS tested thus far (133/133) have antibodies to the agent. A large number of individuals with lymphadenopathy syndrome (68/72), sexual contacts of AIDS patients (15/18), homosexual controls (33/51) are positive. Individuals not part of any AIDS risk group have had no antibody to the agent ( 0/343). The antigen staining pattern can be used to detect early infection (reticular cytoplasmic staining);chronic infection has cytopathic (diffuse)and nuclear staining. Sera differed in their titers of antiviral activity. The healthy homosexuals and lymphadenopathy patients had 10-fold higher titers against ARV. One clinically healthy homosexual had a titer of 1:10,000. Antibodies to ARV have also been detected in individuals from the other AIDS risk groups including Haitians, transfusion-induced AIDS, hemophiliacs (A and B), IV drug abusers, and children born of mothers from one of the risk groups. These data support the conclusion that ARV are responsible for AIDS.

850414
S9I

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