A dose-ranging study of a prototype synthetic HIV-1(MN) V3 branched peptide vaccine

A phase I double-blind trial was done to examine the safety and immunogenicity of a prototype synthetic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 MN strain (HIV-1(MN)) third variable region domain (V3) branched peptide vaccine in HIV-1-uninfected healthy adult volunteers, Subjects were randomly assigned to receive 20, 100, or 500 mu g of vaccine or alum adjuvant control on days 0, 28, and 168, The vaccine was well-tolerated and appeared safe, Induction of binding antibody to V3 MN branched peptide was vaccine dose-related and was detectable in 9 of 10 subjects in the highest-vaccine-dose group, HIV-1(MN)-neutralizing antibody was detected after the third 500-mu g dose in 8 of 10 subjects at the 90% neutralization end point, V3 MN peptide stimulated lymphocyte proliferation in 15 (75%) of 20 subjects after vaccination, In conclusion, this prototype vaccine was safe and it induced humoral and cell-mediated immune responses.