Abstract: First generation adenoviral vectors and associated recombinant adenovirus-based HIV vaccines which show enhanced stability and growth properties and greater cellular-mediated immunity are described within this specification. These adenoviral vectors are utilized to generate and produce through cell culture various adenoviral-based HIV-1 vaccines which contain HIV-1 gag, HIV-1 pol and/or HIV-1 nef polynucleotide pharmaceutical products, and biologically relevant modifications thereof. These adenovirus vaccines, when directly introduced into living vertebrate tissue, preferably a mammalian host such as a human or a non-human mammal of commercial or domestic veterinary importance, express the HIV1-Gag, Pol and/or Nef protein or biologically modification thereof, inducing a cellular immune response which specifically recognizes HIV-1.

Abstract: An adenoviral vector is described which carries a codon-optimized gag gene, along with a heterologous promoter and transcription terminator. This viral vaccine can effectively prevent HIV infection when administered to humans either alone or as part of a prime and boost regime also with a vaccine plasmid.

Abstract: A novel coconjugate comprising an immunogenic protein or protein complex having a first set of covalent linkages to low molecular weight moieties, --a.sup.--, which have an anionic or polyanionic character at physiological pH, and a second set of covalent linkages to peptides comprising Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Principal Neutralizing Determinants (PNDs), or peptides immunologically equivalent therewith, is useful for inducing anti-peptide immune responses in mammals, for inducing HIV-neutralizing antibodies in mammals, for formulating vaccines to prevent HIV infection or disease, including the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), or for treating humans afflicted with HIV infection or disease.

Abstract: New methods for purifying Hepatitis A virus (HAV) are to commercial scale-up and manufacture of specific HAV vaccines, including formalin-inactivated HAV and attenuated HAV.

Abstract: A synthetic peptide, containing the predicted amino acid residues 64 to 77 of the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) gB structural glycoprotein open reading frame, a synthetic subunit immunogen that stimulates an immune response against HSV1 and which, when prepared, and chemically-conjugated to a protein carrier molecule, and inoculated into test animals, gives rise to a specific anti-peptide IgG response, such that these anti-peptide antibodies react with a purified HSV-specific structural glycoprotein preparation and are capable of neutralizing the infectivity of HSV1.

Abstract: Synthetic peptides, containing amino acid residues 15 to 21, 75-80 and 101-107 of the hepatitis A virus (HAV) VP1 structural protein sequence, was prepared and chemically conjugated to a protein carrier molecule. The peptide-carrier conjugate, when inoculated into test animals, gives rise to a specific anti-peptide IgG antibody response. These anti-peptide antibodies bind directly to intact hepatitis A virions, bind to purified and denatured VP1, compete with polyspecific antibody derived from human HAV immune sera, and are capable of neutralizing the infectivity of the virus. The peptide is useful as a synthetic subunit immunogen that stimulates an immune response against HAV.