Inhibition of Heat Inactivation of Reverse Transcriptase of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 by Seropositive Sera

Abstract

The reverse transcriptase (RT) activity of a lysate of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) was almost completely inactivated by incubation at 56 degrees C for 20-30 min. The heat-inactivation of RT in the virus lysate or purified RT was partially inhibited in the presence of some human sera or plasma containing antibodies against HIV. The IgG fraction purified from the seropositive sera was responsible for stabilization of RT upon heat inactivation. This is a new assay system for detection of antibodies against RT.