Recombinant HIV2 gp39 protein (ab68891)

HIV2 infections at present, are predominantly found in west Africa where it is the dominant form of HIV. Both HIV1 and HIV2 have the same modes of transmission and are associated with similar opportunistic infections and AIDS. In persons infected with HIV2, immunodeficiency seems to develop more slowly and to be milder, but as the disease advances, HIV2 infectiousness seems to increase. Little is known about the best approach to the clinical treatment and care of patients infected with HIV2. HIV1 and HIV2 have similar gag (viral core) and pol (polymerase) regions, they have relatively dissimilar env (envelope) regions. Owing to this lack of homology in the envelope region, there is little serologic cross-reactivity of the antibodies directed against the envelope antigens of both HIV1 and HIV2. gp39 forms part of the env protein. The mature envelope protein (Env) consists of a homotrimer of noncovalently associated gp120-gp41 heterodimers. The resulting complex protrudes from the virus surface as a spike. Retroviral Env protein is not absolutely required for the assembly and release of viral particles, but it does play an active role in these events. It is currently thought that HIV viral entry involves the binding of the viral Env glycoprotein gp120/gp41 to the cell surface receptor CD4, which triggers conformational changes in the envelope proteins. Some of the most genetically diverse regions of the viral genome are present in Env.