Abstract: The present invention provides methods for preventing the transmission of HIV, methods for prophylaxis of HIV transmission and methods for reducing the risk of HIV transmission vaginally or rectally using compositions having at least one of polyquaternium, glycerin, methylparaben or proplyparaben. The invention further provides methods for inhibiting the transmission of a sexually transmitted disease using the compositions. Additionally, the invention provides combinations of compositions and devices used with such methods.

Abstract: Recombinant human immunodeficiency virus antigens capable of immunologically identifying the presence of early anti-HIV antibodies are stably expressed in a number of cell lines. These antigens have several clinically important applications as non-hazardous tools in the detection of human immunodeficiency virus exposure/infection, and in screening methods for HIV infection in idiopathic chronic lymphopenia (ICL). These techniques are improved over existing immunologically based and PCR based detection methods, as they provide for the detection of infection/exposure in samples determined to be negative by conventional forms of these types of assays that do not detect anti-HIV gp16O antibodies that react to conformational epitopes of HIV. The invention finds particular application in the detection of human immunodeficiency virus exposure/infection in infants.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for preventing the transmission of HIV, methods for prophylaxis of HIV transmission and methods for reducing the risk of HIV transmission vaginally or rectally using compositions having at least one of polyquaternium, glycerin, methylparaben or proplyparaben. The invention further provides methods for inhibiting the transmission of a sexually transmitted disease using the compositions. Additionally, the invention provides combinations of compositions and devices used with such methods.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the use of methods and compositions for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of HIV infection and AIDS using thymidine phosphorylase as an indicator.

Abstract: Recombinant human immunodeficiency virus antigens capable of immunologically identifying the presence of early anti-HIV antibodies are stably expressed in a number of cell lines. These antigens have several clinically important applications as non-hazardous tools in the detection of human immunodeficiency virus exposure/infection, and in screening methods for HIV infection in idiopathic chronic lymphopenia (ICL). These techniques are improved over existing immunologically based and PCR based detection methods, as they provide for the detection of infection/exposure in samples determined to be negative by conventional forms of these types of assays that do not detect anti-HIV gp160 antibodies that react to conformational epitopes of HIV. The invention finds particular application in the detection of human immunodeficiency virus exposure/infection in infants.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for preventing the transmission of HIV, methods for prophylaxis of HIV transmission and methods for reducing the risk of HIV transmission vaginally or rectally using compositions having at least one of polyquaternium, glycerin, methylparaben or proplyparaben. The invention further provides methods for inhibiting the transmission of a sexually transmitted disease using the compositions. Additionally, the invention provides combinations of compositions and devices used with such methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of determining latent HIV infection by detecting low-abundant HIV nucleic acid sequences in samples of cellular DNA or in paraffin-fixed tissue sections or frozen sections. This technique calls for one primer for an Alu sequence in the human chromosomal DNA and the other primer near the end of the viral LTR. PCR-amplified DNA is then hybridized with a probe which only recognizes the amplified LTR sequence. This probe could be labeled in different ways, and quantitative assays for latent HIV or other retroviruses infection could be developed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of determining latent HIV infection by detecting low-abundant HIV nucleic acid sequences in samples of cellular DNA or in paraffin-fixed tissue sections or frozen sections. This technique calls for one primer for an Alu sequence in the human chromosomal DNA and the other primer near the end of the viral LTR. PCR-amplified DNA is then hybridized with a probe which only recognizes the amplified LTR sequence. This probe could be labeled in different ways, and quantitative assays for latent HIV or other retroviruses infection could be developed.

Abstract: Recombinant human immunodeficiency virus antigens capable of immunologically identifying the presence of early anti-HIV antibodies are stably expressed in a number of cell lines. These antigens have several clinically important applications as non-hazardous tools in the detection of human immunodeficiency virus exposure/infection, and in screening methods for HIV infection in idiopathic chronic lymphopenia (ICL). These techniques are improved over existing immunologically based and PCR based detection methods, as they provide for the detection of infection/exposure in samples determined to be negative by conventional forms of these types of assays that do not detect anti-HIV gp160 antibodies that react to conformational epitopes of HIV. The invention finds particular application in the detection of human immunodeficiency virus exposure/infection in infants.

Abstract: Disclosed is a highly sensitive anti-HIV antibody detection assay. The assay detects the presence of anti-HIV antibodies through the use of a non-denatured HIV antigenic determinant which immunoreactivity binds anti-HIV antibodies in a biological sample. The non-denatured HIV antigenic determinant has provided a means for detecting anti-HIV antibodies in serum samples testing seronegative for the presence of HIV antibodies directed against denatured HIV antigens p17, p19, p24, p27, p39, gp41, p55, gp120 and gp160. The antigenic determinant may take the form of a cross-immunoreactive live HIV-infected cell line or a biologically engineered peptide possessing conserved or shared HIV surface antigenic determinants. Methods of preparing HIV target antigens are also disclosed, as well as methods for determining the presence of anti-HIV antibodies through the use of these non-denatured HIV target antigens. A test kit for detecting anti-HIV antibodies is also disclosed.