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. 1998 Jun;4(6):384–391.

Specific killing of HIV-infected lymphocytes by a recombinant immunotoxin directed against the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein.

T K Bera 1, P E Kennedy 1, E A Berger 1, C F Barbas 3rd 1, I Pastan 1
PMCID: PMC2230270  PMID: 10780881

Abstract

BACKGROUND: 3B3 is a high-affinity anti-gp120 antibody that neutralizes a wide range of primary and laboratory isolates of HIV-1. The parental antibody was isolated from a combinatorial phage display library constructed from bone marrow RNA of an HIV-infected individual. We have generated a highly active immunotoxin using the 3B3 single-chain Fv (scFv) which can specifically kill lymphocytes infected by HIV-1. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used recombinant DNA technology to clone the Fv fragment of 3B3 and produce a single-chain Fv (scFv). 3B3 scFv was then fused to a truncated version of Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE38), giving rise to a recombinant immunotoxin 3B3(Fv)-PE38 that was expressed in E. coli and purified to near homogeneity. RESULTS: 3B3(Fv)-PE38 binds with the same affinity as the parental Fab antibody to the MN strain of gp120. The immunotoxin specifically kills a gp120-expressing transfected cell line and a chronically HIV-infected lymphocytic cell line. The immunotoxin is very stable at 37 degrees C, retaining 80% of its original activity after 24 hr. CONCLUSIONS: Potent immunotoxins such as 3B3(Fv)-PE38 could be utilized in combination with multidrug cocktails that limit viral replication to help reduce viral reservoirs in patients with AIDS.

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Selected References

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