Patent Evaluation: Assay for HIV detection

Summary

Novelty: Novel recombinant HeLa cells containing CD4 and a β-galactosidase reporter gene dependent on transactivation by the infecting virus for activation allows colourimetric detection and quantification of HIV and SIV. The method is claimed to detect infection by a single virion and to be simple and rapid.

Biology: An infectivity test using chamber slide or 96 well plate-cultures of the recombinant cells incubated with virus dilutions and an infectivity neutralisation test using precontact with test sera are described. Both are developed after 72 hours with X-Gal colourimetric reagent. One photograph illustrates test results with HIV-I/IIIB. Detection of HIV-1, HIV-2 and SIV are stated to be feasible.

Chemistry: Construction of the expression plasmid and transfection into HeLa T4 cells by conventional means is described.