skaron@eagle.wesleyan.edu (10/30/89)
In article <28603@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU>, dmcanzi@watdcsu.waterloo.edu (David Canzi) writes: > A researcher at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research says people who > carry the AIDS virus but still are healthy may benefit from a vaccine. The > vaccine is made from the coat of the virus. Effects: Caused some promising > immune responses and no apparent ill effects. Results could lead to larger > studies of the vaccine made by MicroGeneSys Inc., Conn. (From the USA TODAY > Life section.) Is Vaccine the proper term? What is exactly this "vaccine"? Is it along the lines of AZT or is it actually supposed to stop you from getting HIV?? Any help to clear up this confusion would be VERY appreciated. (And I believe the appreciation would be more than just mine alone.) [Moderator note: I believe the MicroGeneSys vaccine is the protein GP 160, which metabolizes to proteins GP 120 and P 41. This experimental vaccine has not been proven efficacious for prevention. Some of its guinea pigs (me included) became HIV antibody positive, as a result of the GP 160 vaccine. However, my antibody status has gone back to negative, as have others'. It is NOT like AZT. All vaccines are intended to trigger a long-term immune response to an infectious agent. Usually vaccines are used prior to infection, as a preventative. You might be familiar with chicken pox, polio, smallpox, or flu vaccines. According to this article, however, the GP 160 vaccine can be used to heighten your body's natural immune response to HIV. Whether this will confer benefits for HIV infected individuals remains to be seen. -- Dan Greening] Steve Karon SKaron@Eagle.wes.edu