[Progress in vaccination against AIDS].

Two vaccination trials against AIDS viruses are reported. The first trial was a prophylactic vaccination carried out in the pig-tailed macaque (Macacca nemestrina) against simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) variant PBj14. The immunogen was a Semliki forest virus (SFV) recombinant expressing SFV - PBj14 envelope protein. Vaccination did not prevent infection but protected the animals against the disease (a fulminant form of AIDS that kills the animal within 12-15 days). The second trial was a therapeutic vaccination carried out with HIV-I-infected hemophilic patients. The immunogen was a toxoïd of alpha interferons. (A toxoïd of alpha interferons is an inactivated and immunogenic preparation of alpha interferons). Vaccination induced the production of neutralizing anti alpha interferon antibody. As a result, circulating alpha interferon concentrations were drastically lowered and the clinical status of patients significantly improved.