DEVELOPMENT OF ANTI-IDIOTYPE ANTIBODY VACCINES FOR AIDS

THE LONG-RANGE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP A VACCINE FOR AIDS USING ANTI-IDIOTYPIC ANTIBODIES. TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, THE FOLLOWING TASKS ARE PLANNED IN PHASE I: (1) TO IMMUNIZE MICE WITH ANTI-HIV PROTEIN MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY (MAB) THAT IS CAPABLE OF BINDING TO VIABLE, HIV-INFECTED CELLS IN VITRO AND TO SELECT FOR HYBRID CLONES THAT ARE PRODUCING ANTI-IDIOTYPIC ANTIBODY; (2) TO IMMUNIZE ANIMALS WITH THE ANTI-IDIOTYPIC MAB AND SUBSEQUENTLY TEST FOR THE GENERATION OF AN IMMUNE RESPONSE AGAINST HIV PROTEINS; AND (3) TO DETERMINE IF SERA (ANTI-IDIOTYPIC ANTIBODIES) FROM IMMUNIZED ANIMALS ARE CAPABLE OF AFFECTING HIV GROWTH IN AN IN VITRO SYSTEM. THESE RESULTS WILL DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF UTILIZING ANTI-IDIOTYPIC ANTIBODIES TO ILLICIT A PROTECTIVE RESPONSE AGAINST HIV AND WILL ALSO PROVIDE A BASIS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN EFFICACIOUS VACCINE AGAINST AIDS.