| 摘要 |
Antibodies that bind a conformationally altered form of CD4 induced on the surface of a CD4<+> cell upon contact of the cell with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or an envelope protein thereof (e.g., gp120), but which do not substantially bind native CD4 on the surface of a cell prior to contact with HIV or an envelope protein thereof, are disclosed. Preferred antibodies of the invention are the monoclonal Fab fragments 3-47 and 3-51. Pharmaceutical compositions, and diagnostic, screening and therapeutic methods utilizing the antibodies of the invention are also disclosed. The antibodies of the invention are useful for detecting a conformationally altered form of CD4 on the surface of a cell, for identifying agents that inhibit or induce formation of this conformationally altered form of CD4 upon gp120 binding, and for inhibiting infection of CD4<+> cells by HIV. Molecules that express at least one epitope expressed on a conformationally altered form of CD4 induced on the surface of a CD4<+> cell upon contact of the cell with HIV, or an envelope protein thereof, are also encompassed by the invention. Such molecules can be used to produce antibodies of the invention and to induce an antibody response in a subject that inhibits infection of cells in the subject by HIV. |
