Feline immunodeficiency virus antigens (FIV antigens)

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) antigens are the structural and enzymatic proteins of a lentivirus that causes a progressive immunodeficiency syndrome in domestic and wild cats, closely mirroring human HIV infection [2, 12]. Key structural antigens include the Gag-derived p24 capsid protein, which forms the viral core and is the primary target for diagnostic immunoassays, and the Env-encoded glycoproteins gp120 and gp41, which facilitate viral entry by interacting with host CD134 and CXCR4 receptors [7, 16]. Functional antigens within the Pol polyprotein, such as reverse transcriptase, protease, and integrase, are essential for the viral life cycle and serve as critical targets for antiretroviral therapies like zidovudine and raltegravir [1, 9]. Preventative efforts focus on these antigens to develop vaccines, such as Fel-O-Vax FIV, which aim to elicit protective immune responses, although high genetic diversity among FIV clades complicates broad protection [2, 4]. Therapeutic challenges associated with targeting these antigens include the development of drug-resistant mutations and the rare but serious risk of feline injection-site sarcoma (FISS) linked to adjuvanted vaccines [3, 6, 11].

Other names

Feline immunodeficiency virus p24 capsid proteinFeline immunodeficiency virus gp120 surface glycoproteinFeline immunodeficiency virus gp41 transmembrane proteinFeline immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptaseFeline immunodeficiency virus proteaseFeline immunodeficiency virus integraseFIV Gag proteinFIV Pol proteinFIV Env protein

Inhibition of viral reverse transcription via nucleoside analogues, inhibition of viral integration into the host genome, antagonism of host co-receptors to block viral envelope binding and entry, and induction of neutralizing antibodies and cellular immunity through vaccination.