AEGiS-05CROI: The challenge of making an AIDS vaccine.

5th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections


Chicago, IL - February 1-5, 1998



The challenge of making an AIDS vaccine.

Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect 1998 Feb 1-5; 5th:229 (abstract no. S2)

Baltimore D; Caltech, Pasadena, CA.

Progress towards an AIDS vaccine is slow because it is a complicated process involving scientific developments as well as human testing. However, there is optimism that a vaccine can be produced because a live-attenuated vaccine has proved effective in monkeys. In humans, the products based on monomeric env glycoprotein have given antibody responses but the antibodies have no neutralizing capacity against patient isolates and may well no even bind to intact Env on the surface of such virus. To induce cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, viral vectors have been used which give inconsistent, small responses. An avipox-based vaccine with a protein boost is in a Phase II trial. A number of newer products are in development including DNA-based vaccines. Understanding why a live-attenuated virus works in monkeys is a key issue. It seems paradoxical that the vaccine virus can grow itself-and if mutated to virulence, causes disease-but it excludes a super-infecting virulent virus. This suggests that there are two compartments for HIV growth, an initial superficial' compartment accessible from the outside and a deeper' compartment that from which the vaccine strain can exclude a superinfecting strain. There are other mysteries, like the nature of the set point and the ability of the virus to downregulate MHC Class I protein and make infected cells resistant to CTLs.

Keywords: AEGIS, AIDS Vaccines, Gene Products, env, Vaccines, Attenuated, HIV-1, HIV Antibodies, Vaccines, DNA, HIV Infections, T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic, HIV, Clinical Trials, Human, AIDSKWDaegis,aidsvaccines,geneproducts,env,vaccines,attenuated,hiv-1,hivantibodies,vaccines,dna,hivinfections,t-lymphocytes,cytotoxic,hiv,clinicaltrials,human,aids

1998-02-01
S2

Copyright © 1998 - Foundation for Retrovirology and Human Health (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Foundation for Retrovirology and Human Health. Licensed from National Library of Medicine.