T-helper-cell proliferative responses to whole-killed human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and p24 antigens of different clades in HIV-1-infected subjects vaccinated with HIV-1 immunogen (Remune)

The discovery of multiple subtypes of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 ( HIV-1) worldwide has created new challenges for the development of both the rapeutic and preventive AIDS vaccines. We examined T-helper proliferative r esponses to HIV-1 clade A, B, C, G, and E whole-killed virus and to HIV-1 c lade G and B core (p24) antigens in HIV-1-infected subjects taking potent a ntiviral drugs who received HIV immunogen (Remune) therapeutic vaccination. Subjects who were immunized mounted strong proliferative responses to both whole virus and core antigens of the different clades. These results sugge st that a whole-killed immunogen may have broad applications as a therapeut ic as well as a preventive vaccine in the current multiclade HIV-1 pandemic .