Human immunodeficiency virus vaccine

Abstract

The present invention relates, in general, to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and, in particular, to an HLA-based HIV vaccine.

Description

[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09 / 497,497, filed Feb. 4, 2000, now pending, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates, in general, to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and, in particular, to an HLA-based HIV vaccine. BACKGROUND [0003] As the HIV epidemic continues to spread world-wide, the need for an effective HIV vaccine remains urgent. The extraordinary ability of HIV to mutate, the inability of many currently known specificities of anti-HIV antibodies to consistently neutralize HIV primary isolates, and the lack of a complete understanding of the correlates of protective immunity to HIV infection have impeded efforts to develop an HIV vaccine having the desired effectiveness. [0004] Although a majority of HIV-infected subjects develop acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), approximately 10-15% of patients are AIDS-free after 10 years of infection, and are termed non-pr...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The extraordinary ability of HIV to mutate, the inability of many currently known specificities of anti-HIV antibodies to consistently neutralize HIV primary isolates, and the lack of a complete understanding of the correlates of protective immunity to HIV infection have impeded efforts to develop an HIV vaccine having the desired effectiveness.

A key obstacle to HIV vaccine development is the extraordinary variability of HIV and the rapidity and extent of HIV mutation (Win-Hobson in The Evolutionary biology of Retroviruses, SSB Morse Ed.

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