CROSS-CLADE IMMUNE-RESPONSES AFTER IMMUNIZATION WITH A WHOLE-KILLED GP120-DEPLETED HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 IMMUNOGEN IN INCOMPLETE FREUNDS-ADJUVANT (HIV-1 IMMUNOGEN, REMUNE(TM)) IN HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 SEROPOSITIVE SUBJECTS

Lymphocyte proliferation responses to gp120-depleted HZ321 virus (clad e A) antigen were compared to BAL human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) v irus antigen (clade B) responses, clade E HIV virus antigen responses, and purified native p24 antigen responses in 15 human immunodeficienc y virus type-1 (HIV-1) seropositive subjects immunized with a whole-ki lled inactivated gp120-depleted HIV-1 antigen in Incomplete Freund's a djuvant (HIV-1 immunogen, REMUNE(TM)). A significant increase in lymph ocyte proliferation to HZ321 antigen was observed after immunization w ith the HIV-1 immunogen (p = 0.02). A strong association was demonstra ted between the HIV-I immunizing antigen, HZ321, and native p24 antige n responses (r = 0.80, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, a strong association in terms of proliferative responses was demonstrated between HZ321 vir us (clade A) responses and BAL virus (clade B) (r = 0.95, p < 0.0001) and clade E virus antigen (r = 0.92, g < 0.0001). Proliferative respon ses to HIV antigens also correlated with baseline CD4 counts. Taken to gether, these results support the specificity of immune responses indu ced by REMUNE (HIV-1 immunogen). The development of cross-reactive imm une responses between clades and to the more conserved epitopes of the virus have implications in the development of therapeutic and prophyl actic HIV vaccines.