Abstract: Immunologically reactive gag proteins of LAV/HTLV-III are expressed in bacterial cells. The gag proteins are encoded by a recombinant plasmid containing procaryotic transcriptional and translational signals for expression, followed downstream by a DNA sequence comprising pGAG-1. Preferred signals for expression are selected from an inducible and/or suppressible operon, such as the trp operon. The gag proteins are isolated from the bacterial host and are utilized in diagnostic assays which detect the presence of LAV/HTLV-III antigens or antibodies immunologically reactive with LAV/HTLV-III. Further, the proteins produced by the method disclosed may be used as a vaccine against infection by the causative virus for acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Abstract: Immunologically reactive gag proteins of LAV are expresesed in bacterial cells. The gag proteins are encoded by a recombinant plasmid containing procaryotic transcriptional and translational signals for expression, followed downstream by a DNA sequence comprising a portion of the gag region of LAV. Preferred signals for expression are selected from an inducible and/or suppressible operon, such as the trp operon. The gag proteins are isolated from the bacterial host and are utilized in diagonstic assays which detect the presence of LAV antigens or antibodies immunologically reactive with LAV. Further, the proteins produced by the method disclosed may be used as a vaccine against infection by the caustive virus for acquired immune deficiency syndrome.