| abstract |
The present invention provides monoclonal antibodies that are specifically immunoreactive with an HIV-1 gp120 protein or its precursor gp160 protein comprising the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 1, G-P-G-R, and characterized by their ability to neutralize, in vitro, the infection of H9 cells by live HIV-1 strains MN and IIIB as determined by reverse transcriptase, p24, MT-2 and syncytium formation assays. Presently preferred antibody NM-01 isolated from mouse/mouse hybridoma ATCC HB 10726 is further characterized by its capacity to mediate complement-dependent virolysis of HIV-1 particles and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity of HIV-1 infected cells. Antibodies consisting essentially of a human antibody variable region comprising a sequence of amino acids of at least one complementarity determining region of the monoclonal antibody produced by the hydridoma cell line ATCC HB 10726 are specifically disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention are projected to be useful in the passive immunization treatment of animals, especially humans, susceptible to or infected with HIV-1. |