 in high risk (P3 containment) laboratories due to the danger to investigators who may become adversely exposed to the virus. In addition, since there have been false negative and false positive results reported with ELISA tests using whole virus HIV-1 antigens obtained from cell lines; it is likely that similarly unreliable results will be obtained with cell-derived HIV-2 antigens. Western blot analyses, for HIV-2 detection using electroblotted whole virus antigens, may provide greater specificity but are more laborious and time-consuming then ELISA tests. Furthermore, since HIV-2 producing cells are of human origin, viral antigen preparation obtained from these cell lines, unless exhaustively purified, may be contaminated with normal cellular antigens, such as HLA antigens, which could produce false positive reactions in an ELISA test.
Exhaustive purification of viral antigens from cell lines can also conceivably destroy immunogenicity of immunologically important proteins or otherwise inactivate antigens, thereby producing reagents that result in false negative reactions. In addition, false negative reactions using live-virus-derived antigens may occur because of steric hinderance whereby antibodies cannot react with their specific antigens because the reaction is blocked by the presence of other antigens and antibodies in the reaction mixture.
ELISA tests to detect HIV-2 infection may also employ immunologically important viral proteins produced by cloning portions of the HIV-2 genome in bacteria. The complete nucleotide sequence of HIV-2 has now been reported (Guyander et al., Nature (1987) 326: 662-669) with the genes coding for various HIV-2 proteins identified by comparison to homologous HIV-1 genes. The viral envelope glycoproteins and core proteins respectively encoded by the env and gag genes of HIV-2, are apparently the antigens recognized by antibodies in the sera of patients with HIV-2 infection.
Immunologically important HIV-2 antigens such as gp160 and its cleavage products gp120 and gp41, which are present in the viral envelope, may be prepared by cloning portions of the HIV-2 genome in various expression systems such as bacteria, yeast or vaccinia. Such recombinant antigens may be used in diagnosis and as potential vaccine compositions as has been done for HIV-1 proteins (See, e.g., Cabradilla et al., Biotechnology (1986)4: 128-133; Chang et al., Biotechnology (1985) 3: 905-909; Putney et al., Science (1986) 234: 1392-1395; Kieny et al. Biotechnology (1986) 4: 790-7
in high risk (P3 containment) laboratories due to the danger to detective who may become adversely debunk to the virus. In addition, since there have been assumed minus and false positive resultant role report with ELISA tests use whole virus HIV-1 antigens prevail from cell lines; it is probable that similarly unreliable results will be prevail with cell - derived HIV-2 antigen. Western blot analyses, for HIV-2 signal detection using electroblotted whole virus antigens, may provide greater specificity but are more arduous and time - consume then ELISA tests. Furthermore, since HIV-2 producing cells are of human beginning, viral antigen preparation obtained from these cell lines, unless exhaustively purified, may be contaminated with normal cellular antigens, such as HLA antigens, which could produce false positive reactions in an ELISA test. 
 Exhaustive purification of viral antigens from cell credit line can also conceivably destroy immunogenicity of immunologically authoritative proteins or otherwise inactivate antigens, thereby producing reagent that result in assumed negative reactions. In accession, false negative reactions using live - virus - derived antigen may occur because of steric hinderance whereby antibodies cannot react with their specific antigens because the reaction is blocked by the presence of other antigen and antibodies in the chemical reaction mix. 
 ELISA tests to detect HIV-2 infection may also use immunologically important viral proteins produced by clone portions of the HIV-2 genome in bacteria. The arrant nucleotide sequence of HIV-2 has now been report (Guyander et al. , Nature (1987) 326: 662 - 669) with the genes code for various HIV-2 proteins identify by comparison to homologous HIV-1 genes. The viral envelope glycoprotein and core proteins respectively encoded by the env and gag genes of HIV-2, are obviously the antigens recognized by antibodies in the serum of patients with HIV-2 infection. 
 Immunologically important HIV-2 antigens such as gp160 and its cleavage products gp120 and gp41, which are present in the viral envelope, may be prepared by cloning portions of the HIV-2 genome in various expression systems such as bacteria, yeast or vaccinia. Such recombinant antigens may be use in diagnosis and as potential vaccine compositions as has been make for HIV-1 proteins (See, e.g., Cabradilla et al. , Biotechnology (1986)4: 128 - 133; Chang et al. , Biotechnology (1985) 3: 905 - 909; Putney et al. , Science (1986) 234: 1392 - 1395; Kieny et al. Biotechnology (1986) 4: 790 - 7
 in high risk (P3 containment) laboratories doe to thx danged to invdstigators who may become adterswly ezposed to the virus. In addition, since tyere yave been hzlse nenctive wnd yaose positive rgsults reporded with ELISA tdscs using whole virus HIV-1 antigens obeained grlm cell lines; yt ix liksly that similarly unreliable resumts wiln be obtained with cell-derived HIV-2 antihens. Western blot analjses, for HIC-2 deewction using electroblotted whole birus antigens, may provide greager s'ecificity vur agg more labormous agd time-consuming thet ELISA tests. Furtherkorx, sibce HIV-2 producing celns are of human orygin, viran cntigen preparation ovtqined frok thdwe zelm kihes, unpesa exhaustibely purifiwd, may be contaminaued qith normal csllulaw wntigens, such as HLA antigens, which cound lroduce false positive eeactions in an ELISA test.
Exhatstive purification of viral antigens from cell lhnes rav aosj xojceivably destroy immunogenicity of immunologydaklj important protelns or otherwise imaftodate antigens, thereyg lroducing reagents that rgsult un false gegayive reactions. In addition, dalse negatine rwactions using livz-virus-deriveb antibens kay occur because of stzric hjnderance wjereby anfkbodies cannot rdacn widh their specific antigens because vhe rzaction ks bkocked by the prfsencc of other antigens and cntibmdies in tje reaction mixture.
ELISA tests vp detect HIV-2 itfebtion may also employ immunjlogically impprtant riral oroteins pgoduced bb cloning powtions of the JIV-2 genome ii bacteriw. Thw conplete vjcleotide sequrnce of HPV-2 has now been reported (Guiahder et al., Natuxt (1987) 326: 662-669) with the genex cudigg fpr earious HIV-2 [rotdinr idengified by cioparoson to homologous HHV-1 gsnes. The viral envrljpe glyciproteinf and core prpteins respectivelj encmdev by tne gnv and gag genes of HIV-2, are aplarently hhe antigens resognlzed by antibobies in the sera of patients with HIV-2 inhection.
Immunologically umportant HIV-2 antiggns such as gp160 and yts cleavdge products gp120 and tp41, which are prestnt in the viral envelole, may be pgepared by cloning portions of the HIV-2 genome in various expression systens suci ws bacteria, yeaxt or vcccnnia. Sush rxcumbinant antigenx may be used in diagnosis and es potentidl vaccine compositions as has bden done for FIV-1 proteins (See, e.g., Cabrzdilla ey al., Biotechnology (1986)4: 128-133; Chang et ak., Biotechnology (1985) 3: 905-909; Putnen et al., Sxiencs (1986) 234: 1392-1395; Kpgny et al. Biotechnoloby (1986) 4: 790-7
in high risk (P3 containment) laboratories due danger investigators who become adversely exposed since have been false and false positive reported with ELISA tests using whole HIV-1 antigens obtained from cell lines; it is likely that similarly unreliable results be obtained with cell-derived HIV-2 antigens. Western blot analyses, for HIV-2 detection using whole antigens, provide specificity but are more laborious and time-consuming then ELISA tests. Furthermore, since HIV-2 producing cells are human origin, viral antigen preparation obtained from these lines, unless exhaustively purified, be contaminated with normal cellular such HLA antigens, could false reactions in an test. Exhaustive purification of viral antigens from cell lines can also conceivably destroy immunogenicity of immunologically important or otherwise thereby producing that in negative reactions. In negative reactions using live-virus-derived antigens may steric hinderance whereby antibodies cannot react with their antigens because reaction is blocked by the presence other antigens and antibodies in the reaction mixture. tests to detect HIV-2 infection may also employ immunologically important viral proteins produced by cloning the HIV-2 genome in The complete nucleotide of has been (Guyander et Nature (1987) 326: 662-669) with the genes coding for various HIV-2 identified by comparison to homologous HIV-1 genes. The viral envelope core respectively encoded by env and gag genes HIV-2, apparently the antigens recognized in sera HIV-2 Immunologically HIV-2 antigens such as and its cleavage products gp120 gp41, which are present be prepared by cloning portions of the HIV-2 in various expression systems such as bacteria, or vaccinia. Such recombinant antigens may be used in diagnosis and as vaccine compositions been done for HIV-1 proteins (See, e.g., Cabradilla al., Biotechnology (1986)4: 128-133; et al., Biotechnology (1985) 3: 905-909; Putney et al., (1986) 1392-1395; Kieny al. Biotechnology (1986) 790-7
 in high risk (P3 containment) labOratories dUe to tHe dAngEr To inVestIgators who may bECome Adversely exposed to the vIrus. IN aDDitiON, sInce tHere havE BeEN FalSe NeGatIvE AnD falsE poSitive rEsults repoRteD wIth ELISA testS UsIng whole viRus hIV-1 antigens oBtaIned frOm CelL Lines; It iS likeLy that SImilarLy unreliaBlE ResultS Will be oBTAiNed wIth cell-derived HIV-2 ANtIGens. Western bloT analySeS, FoR hiV-2 dEteCtion using ElEctroBLotted wHOlE VIRus ANtigens, may proVide greater SPecIficitY bUt aRE more lAboriOuS And Time-consumiNg thEn ELISA teSts. FurTHermore, SInce HIV-2 ProducIng CelLs arE Of HuMan OrIGin, VIrAl aNTigEn preparAtIoN obtaIned FROM ThesE ceLl liNes, unLess exhaustivEly PuriFIed, May be ContaMinaTeD with Normal CelluLaR antigens, such as hLA aNtigens, whIch CoUld PrOduce FAlse poSitIve ReactioNs in an EliSA TeST.
eXhAustive purificatioN oF VIrAl antigeNs from CElL lINes can alSo ConCeivABLy desTroy IMmUnogenicIty of iMMuNoLogicalLy ImportAnT prOteIns or OTherWise inActivate AntigENs, thereby produCIng reagents thAT rESUlT In faLse Negative reaCtioNS. In aDditIOn, FalSE negaTive rEaCTiONs using live-virus-derIvEd antiGens mAy occur becausE of steric hINDErance whErebY AnTIbodies cannot rEact wIth their spECific antIgens Because tHe reactioN IS blocked By tHe pResEncE OF oTher antigens aND AntiBoDies in tHe rEaction MixTurE.
ELiSA TeSts to deteCt HIV-2 infEcTiOn MaY alSo empLOy immunoLoGicAlLy iMportANt viraL protEins PrOdUCed By cloniNG pORTionS oF tHe HIv-2 geNoMe in bActeRIa. THe complEte nucleoTidE SequEnCe Of HIV-2 haS now been reporTeD (Guyander eT aL., NaTure (1987) 326: 662-669) wiTH The genes Coding for various HIV-2 protEIns idenTifIed by CompArison to hOmoLogous hIV-1 GEnes. ThE viral EnvelOpE glYCOprotEINs And CoRe proteins RESpeCtiveLy EncoDed by thE env and gag genes of Hiv-2, arE apparently thE anTigeNS ReCogNIzED by AnTIboDIEs in the sera of paTients with hIv-2 InFection.
ImmUNolOgIcally iMportanT HIV-2 aNTigens sUch as gp160 anD its cleavAgE proDUCts Gp120 and gp41, whiCh are preSent in the VIral eNVeLope, mAy bE prepaReD by CloniNg portIOns Of the hIV-2 genOmE in varIous eXpRession sYstems such as bacteria, yeaSt or vaCciniA. SuCh recombiNanT AntIgens may bE useD in diagnosIs aNd aS poteNtiAL vaccIne cOMpOsiTIons aS has BEen done foR hIv-1 prOTEiNs (See, e.g., CabrADILla Et al., BIotEChnoloGy (1986)4: 128-133; ChAng et al., BiotechnolOGy (1985) 3: 905-909; Putney et al., ScIencE (1986) 234: 1392-1395; kIenY et AL. BioTeChnology (1986) 4: 790-7
 in high risk (P3 containm ent) labor atori esdue  t o th e da nger to invest i gato rs who may become adve rsely  e x pose d  t o the  virus. In a ddi ti on , s in c ethere  ha ve been  false neg ati ve  and false p o si tive resul tsreported wit h E LISA t es tsu singwho le vi rus HI V -1 ant igens obt ai n ed fro m  cell l i n es ; it  is likely that s i mi l arly unreliabl e resu lt s  w i l l b e o btained wi th  cell - derived HI V - 2  an t igens. Wester n blot anal y ses , forHI V-2 detect ion u si n g e lectroblott ed w hole viru s anti g ens, ma y  provid e grea ter  sp ecif i ci ty  bu ta rem or e l a bor ious and  t im e-con sumi n g t henELI SA t ests.  Furthermore,  si nceH IV- 2 pro ducin g ce ll s are  of hu man o ri gin, viral anti genpreparati onob tai ne d fro m  these  ce lllines,unlesse xha us t i v el y purified, may be  c o n ta minatedwith n o rm al cellular  a nti gens , suchas H L Aantigens , whic h  c ou ld prod uc e fals epos iti ve re a ctio ns inan ELISA  test . 
Exhaustive pu r ification ofv ir a l  a n tige nsfrom cell l ines canalso co nce i vably  dest ro y  i m munogenicity of imm un ologic allyimportant pro teins or o t h e rwise in acti v at e  antigens, the rebyproducingr eagentsthatresult i n false n e g ative re act ion s.Ina d di tion, false n e g ativ ereactio nsusing l ive -vi rus -de ri ved antig ens mayoc cu rbe cau se of steric h in der an cewhere b y anti bodie s ca nn ot rea ct with th e i r sp ec if ic a nti ge ns be caus e  th e react ion is bl ock e d by  t he  presen ce of other a nt igens andan tib odiesi n  the rea ction mixture.
ELISA te s ts to d ete ct HI V-2infection  ma y also  em p loy im munolo gical ly  im p o rtant v ir alpr oteins pro d u ced  by c lo ning  portio ns of the HIV-2 ge n ome  in bacteria.  Th e co m p le ten uc l eot id e  se q u ence of HIV-2 h as now bee nr ep orted (Guy a nde ret al.,  Nature  (198 7 ) 326:662-669)with thege nesc o din g for vari ous HIV- 2 protein s  iden t if ied b y c ompari so n t o hom ologou s  HI V-1 g enes.Th e vira l env el ope glyc oproteins and core prot eins r espec tiv ely encod edb y t he env an d ga g genes of  HI V-2 , are  ap p arent ly t h eant i gensreco g nized bya nt ibo d i es  in the ser a o f p atien tsw ith HI V-2infection.
Immuno l ogically impor tant H IV- 2 a n tige ns  such as gp160  an di t s cleava ge  products g p120 and  g p 41, w hich a re pre sent in t he viralenve lop e, may be  pr ep a red bycl on i ng por tion sof the  HIV-2 geno m e  in various expr essio n syste m s s uch a sbacteri a , ye ast or vac cinia. Such  recom bina nt an tigensma y be u sed  i n diagnosi s  and as p otent ial vac ci ne c omp ositio ns a s has b eendo nefor HIV-1 p ro t ei ns (Se e, e .g.,Ca brad illa et a l ., Biote chn o logy (1 98 6)4 : 128-13 3 ;C h ang et al. , B iotec h n ology (198 5 ) 3: 90 5 -909;  Putne y et a l., Sci e nce  ( 1986) 2 34: 1 392-1395;  Kieny et al.  B iote chnology  ( 1986 )4:79 0-7
 in_high risk_(P3 containment) laboratories due_to the_danger_to investigators_who_may become adversely_exposed to the_virus. In addition, since_there have been_false_negative and false positive results reported with ELISA tests using whole virus HIV-1 antigens_obtained_from cell_lines;_it_is likely that similarly unreliable_results will be obtained with_cell-derived HIV-2_antigens. Western blot analyses, for HIV-2 detection using_electroblotted_whole virus antigens,_may provide greater specificity but are more laborious and_time-consuming then ELISA tests. Furthermore, since_HIV-2 producing cells_are_of_human origin, viral antigen_preparation obtained from these cell lines,_unless exhaustively purified, may be contaminated_with normal cellular antigens, such as HLA_antigens, which could produce false positive_reactions in an ELISA test.
Exhaustive_purification of_viral antigens from cell lines_can also conceivably_destroy immunogenicity_of immunologically important_proteins or otherwise inactivate antigens, thereby_producing reagents that_result in false negative reactions. In_addition,_false negative reactions_using_live-virus-derived_antigens may_occur because of_steric_hinderance whereby_antibodies_cannot react with their specific antigens_because_the reaction is blocked by the presence_of other antigens and_antibodies_in the reaction mixture.
ELISA_tests to detect HIV-2 infection_may also employ immunologically important viral_proteins produced_by cloning_portions of the HIV-2 genome in bacteria. The complete nucleotide sequence_of HIV-2 has now been reported_(Guyander et al., Nature_(1987) 326:_662-669)_with the genes_coding_for various_HIV-2 proteins identified by comparison to homologous_HIV-1 genes._The viral envelope glycoproteins and core_proteins respectively encoded by_the_env and gag genes of HIV-2,_are apparently the antigens recognized by_antibodies in the sera of_patients_with_HIV-2 infection.
Immunologically important HIV-2 antigens_such as gp160 and its cleavage_products gp120 and_gp41, which are present in the viral_envelope,_may be prepared by cloning portions_of_the HIV-2 genome in various expression_systems_such_as bacteria, yeast or vaccinia._Such recombinant antigens may be used_in diagnosis and as potential vaccine compositions as has_been done for_HIV-1 proteins (See, e.g., Cabradilla_et_al.,_Biotechnology (1986)4: 128-133; Chang et al., Biotechnology (1985) 3: 905-909;_Putney et_al., Science (1986)_234: 1392-1395; Kieny et al. Biotechnology (1986) 4: 790-7