At present, it is known that about 80% of the proteins which band at 1.16 gm/ml, some of which react with some AIDS sera, do not constitute any of the proteins ascribed to HIV.(41,42,43) Most importantly, prior to the publication of the Science papers, evidence existed, confirmed since, which is at odds with the conclusion that "p24 and p41 may therefore be considered viral structural proteins": The p41/45 protein In AIDS research, the p41 and p45 bands are considered to represent one and the same HIV protein. 1. Like Gallo's group, Montagnier's team one year earlier, found that AIDS sera reacted with a protein p41/45 from the AIDS cultures and which in sucrose density gradients, banded at 1.16 gm/ml. However, from their data they considered that the p41 band "may be due to contamination of the virus by cellular actin which was present in immunoprecipitates of all cell extracts",(5) that is, of "HIV infected" as well as non-infected cells and cells infected with HTLV-I. Although Gallo's group did not find such a reaction with p41 in non-infected cells, they did find a p80 protein and concluded that the reaction was "non-specific".(8) However, at present it is known that p80 as well as two additional "HIV proteins", p120 and p160, are oligomers of p41.(44) Which protein (band), p41, p80, p120 or p160 is detected in a given WB depends on the culture and WB conditions, including temperature and the concentration of sodium dodecyl sulphate used to disrupt the proteins which band at 1.16 gm/ml;(45) 2. Actin is an ubiquitous protein present in all cells including bacteria and several viruses. Well known retroviruses such as the mouse mammary tumour virus have also been shown to contain actin of cellular origin and it has been postulated that this protein plays a key role in both retroviral assembly and budding;(46,47) 3. Platelets from healthy individuals also contain a p41 protein which reacts with sera from homosexual men with AIDS and imm...
