THE VIRAL ENVELOPE IN THE EVOLUTION OF HIV - A HYPOTHETICAL APPROACH TO INDUCING AN EFFECTIVE IMMUNE-RESPONSE TO THE VIRUS

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is 'perceived' by the host immu ne system as partly-self because of the presence of host cell wall mem brane on the viral envelope. This perception leads to an ineffective i mmune response to the virus. It is proposed that only viral core antig ens without the envelope will be perceived as non-self by the host imm une system and can provoke an effective immune response. In normal uni nfected persons, core antigens could therefore serve as a vaccine. In HIV infected persons, uncommitted immunocytes from the peripheral leuc ocytes freed from antibodies will in vitro process autologous viral co re antigens as non-self antigens and lead to an effective immune respo nse against the HIV when reinjected into the patient. The use of autol ogous viral core antigens provides, at the same time, a means for test ing viral core antigens as possible vaccines without any risk to a thi rd person. This immunotherapy of the HIV, when confirmed, will support core antigens as possible vaccines and could also be applied to the l arge group of retroviral and other enveloped viruses that cause chroni c infections and malignant tumours in man and animals, with considerab le benefits to human and animal health.