Interpretation of Antibodies Reacting Solely with Human Retroviral Core Proteins

Abstract

To the Editor: With more widespread testing for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in groups at low risk, we sometimes find that confirmatory Western blot assay shows antibodies that react solely with the core proteins of HIV-1. Such antibodies have been interpreted as a false positive finding when they are found in blood donors.^{1 2 3} In genuine HIV-1 infection, however, anti-core antibodies are the first to appear in the process of seroconversion.^{4 5 6} On the other hand, serum samples from patients infected with HIV-2 recognize the core proteins of HIV-1 and most proteins of STLV-III_AGM, a closely related simian . . .