Abstract: A process is provided for protecting a primate host from a self-replicating infection by an immunodeficiency retrovirus. Protection is achieved by administering to the primate host a combination of a pharmaceutically effective amount of a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor and a pharmaceutically effective amount of a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor prior to exposure to the immunodeficiency retrovirus. The administration is effective if provided in a single dose within 24 hours of the exposure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel plasmid constructs useful for the delivery of DNA vaccines. The present invention provides novel plasmids having a transcription cassette capable of directing the expression of a vaccine nucleic acid insert encoding immunogens derived from any pathogen, including fungi, bacteria and viruses. The present invention, however, is particularly useful for inducing in a patient an immune response against pathogenic viruses such as HIV, measles or influenza. Immunodeficiency virus vaccine inserts of the present invention express non-infectious HIV virus-like particles (VLP) bearing multiple viral epitopes. VLPs allow presentation of the epitopes to multiple histocompatability types, thereby reducing the possibility of the targeted virus escaping the immune response. Also described are methods for immunizing a patient by delivery of a novel plasmid of the present invention to the patient for expression of the vaccine insert therein.

Abstract: A method for detecting at least one antibody directed against at least one primate immunodeficiency virus in a biological sample that includes contacting a biological sample with (i) at least one detection multiple antigenic peptide comprising a portion of an immunodominant region of a transmembrane protein of a primate immunodeficiency virus and (ii) at least one differentiation multiple antigenic peptide comprising a portion of a V3-loop of an envelope protein of a primate immunodeficiency virus. Also disclosed is an enzyme immunoassay that includes a first substrate to which are bound at least one of the detection multiple antigenic peptides and a second substrate to which are bound at least one of the differentiation multiple antigenic peptides.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vector or vector containing composition comprising a spumavirus backbone and a antigen-encoding nucleic acid. The present invention also provides methods of treating or preventing a condition resulting from a vital, bacterial, or parasitic infection in a subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of the vector or vector containing composition comprising a spumavirus backbone and an antigen-encoding nucleic acid. Also provided in the present invention are methods of treating a condition resulting from a cancer in a subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of the vector or vector containing composition comprising a spumavirus backbone and an antigen-encoding nucleic acid.

Abstract: Assays and kits for the detection of phenotypic resistance of a retrovirus to reverse transcriptase inhibitor-drugs in a biological sample. The assays are based on the direct analysis of the susceptibility of retroviral reverse transcriptase to inhibition by a reverse transcriptase inhibitor drug. The enzymatic activity of the reverse transcriptase is determined by measuring the DNA product produced when an RNA template and a first complementary DNA primer from a suitable region of the encephalomyocarditis virus genome are incubated with a biological sample containing reverse transcriptase in the presence of the drug to which resistance is being determined. The incubation mixture is reacted under conditions whereby the RNA template and the DNA primer will anneal and a DNA strand will be synthesized as an extension from the DNA primer if the reverse transcriptase in the sample is resistant to and not inhibited by the drug.