Monoclonal Antibodies to HIV-1 Vpr

Available for licensing are monoclonal antibodies against HIV-1 viral protein R (Vpr) and the respective hybridoma cell lines expressing the same. The antibodies provide a means for detecting HIV-1 Vpr. Currently, the mechanism of HIV pathogenesis believed to involve viral replication inside immune cells and other cells. At present, there are no clinical assays for detecting HIV-1 Vpr. Vpr circulates at detectable levels in the blood and is likely derived from degraded virions or released from infected cells. Vpr facilitates viral replication and disrupt normal cell function. Thus measurement of Vpr levels in blood, extracellular fluid, and tissue may be of benefit in understanding the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection and its myriad complications.

The hybridoma cell lines (9F12 and 10F2) were selected from a group of hybridoma cell lines. These antibodies can be used for detection, including immunoasssays (ELISA) and immunoaffinity-capillary electrophoresis. The amount of detected HIV-1 Vpr is compared to a standardized control sample for determining the progress of disease or the presence of known complications like neuropathy, dementia, metabolic syndrome, or nephropathy.