Retrovirus from the hiv group and its use

摘要

HIV strain MVP-2901/94 (ECACC V95012601) and its variants are new, pref. where the genomic RNA of the variants has at least 75% (esp. at least 90%) homology with that of MVP-2901/94 and has a RNA sequence which is complementary to and at least 75% (esp. at least 85%) homologous with a defined 1070 bp DNA sequence given in the specification. Also claimed are: (1) cDNA complementary to at least part of the RNA of a virus as above; (2) recombinant DNA contg. the cDNA of (1); (3) an antigen obtained using the DNA of (1) or (2) or using the amino acid structure that can be deduced from the cDNA; (4) an antigen prepd. from a virus as above; (5) RNA coding for a virus as above; and (6) a nucleic acid fragment with a length of at least 15 bases and with a sequence which corresponds to or is complementary to the DNA of (1) or (2).