IMMUNIZATION OF HIV-INFECTED ADULTS WITH A 3-DOSE SERIES OF INACTIVATED MYCOBACTERIUM-VACCAE

Heat-killed Mycobacterium vaccae vaccine was administered in a 3-dose schedule to 12 HIV-infected adults with CD4 cell counts greater than o r equal to 300/mm(3). Local and systemic side effects were monitored, Delayed-type hypersensitivity to purified protein derivative and Mycob acterium avium sensitin was measured at baseline and after the final d ose. Antibody to aralipoarabinomannin, man-lipoarabinomannin, and a sh ort-term culture filtrate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were also meas ured, Lymphocyte proliferation responses to IM avium sensitin and IM v accae sonicate were determined, Vaccine site induration was maximal at 2 days (median, 6 mm) and no systemic side effects were noted. Purifi ed protein derivative skin test conversions did not occur. Changes in CD4 counts and HIV viral load were not significant. Three (27%) of 11 subjects who completed the trial showed either M avium skin test (n = 1) or short-term culture filtrate antibody (n = 2) responses, A three- dose schedule of M vaccae vaccine is safe and well tolerated in adults with early HIV infection and produces detectable immunologic response s in a subset of these subjects.