AIDS Caused by a Slow Virus

Home , Slow virus

6::..: 36:..______CQRRESPQN0ENCE-----N_A_Tu_RE_v_o_L._326_1_6A_PR_rL_1_9s7 Yet even then, not all of us are immune to vaccinated subcutaneously in the neck AIDS caused by doubts as to the ethics of full commercial with 1 ml of the V-RG recombinant secrecy where potentially life-saving vaccine administered from a 'multiple products are being researched and de dose' syringe, similar to ones used for a slow virus veloped and when one of its results is routine vaccination of cattle. In the other SIR-Recognition that AIDS (acquired colossal duplication of scientific effort. group, ten animals were vaccinated with immune deficiency syndrome) is caused STEWART BRITTEN the recombinant vaccine by intradermal 1 by a lentivirus has been slow in coming • (Hon. Secretary, UK-USSR Medical scarification in a previously shaved area Ellrodt and LeBras' do a signal service to Exchange Programme) on the neck of each animal. The ten cattle those devising vaccines for human im 9d Stanhope Road, vaccinated subcutaneously and the ten mune deficiency viruses (HIVs) by offer London N6 5NE, UK cattle vaccinated by scarification were ing a cautionary warning about the kept in separate enclosures but in close unusual properties of these slow viral contact with ten non-vaccinated cows. agents. Similar warnings should be issued Rabies experiment The enclosures for each group of 20 to policy planners in their projections of SIR-We wish to correct a number of animals (ten vaccinated and ten non future prevalence of AIDS. Based on misconceptions and inaccuracies in con vaccinated) were separated by a distance other lentiviruses, the full impact of the nection with the rabies experiment by the of a quarter of a mile and consisted of a HIVs may not become known until one Pan American Health Organization shed in a fenced field. During the first half to two-thirds of the life span of (PAHO) in Argentina, which was the month of the trial, the animals were kept infected individuals has passed'. In the subject of a letter from an independent in the shed to ensure the closest possible case of humans, manifestations of the group of Argentinian scientists (Nature contact between vaccinated and non disease could continue to appear in sur 324, 610; 1986). vaccinated cattle. Milking cattle were vivors for 20-40 years after infection. Wistar's part in the experiment was used in the experiment so that milk Coupled with the prospect of transgenic solely as consultant for the development production levels could be monitored as a humans (T.M. Folks, personal communi of the protocol, fund-raiser for the costs of sensitive indicator of animal health. None cations) arising over this long disease the experiment and supplier of the vaccine of the vaccinated cattle showed any course, the case for prevention of AIDS to PAHO. But as you refer to the Wistar decrease in milk production throughout seems even more pressing. Institute in the title of the letter, we wish the trial period and none showed any sign CEciL H. Fox to clarify the actual conditions of the ex of illness. National Institutes of Health, periment. By order of the animal disease authority Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA The experiment was designed to evalu in Argentina, all 40 cattle were killed on I. Connor, S. New Sctent. 12 February (1987). ate a live recombinant virus vaccine for 14 November 1986, and the blood samples 2. Ellrodt, A. & Le Bras, P. Nature 325, 765 (1987). 3. Haase, A.T. Nature 322, 130-136 (1986). immunization of cattle against rabies. The obtained 3-4 months after vaccination vaccine, a vaccinia-rabies glycoprotein have so far been barred from use in assays (V-RG) recombinant virus, had previous for antibodies against rabies and vaccinia Soviet AIDS ly been tested in animal species in captiv viruses. The one-month post-vaccination SIR-There has been official frankness ity, including mice, rabbits, foxes, skunks samples had, however, already been about the presence of AIDS (acquired and raccoons. In each case, protective im tested, and the results indicated that the immune deficiency syndrome) in the munity upon challenge with rabies virus vaccinated cattle developed protective Soviet Union for rather longer than Vera had been demonstrated. levels of anti-rabies antibody. None of the Rich gives credit for (Nature 326, 3; 1987). Before the experiment in Argentina, non-vaccinated animals developed anti When the agreement between Britain and the level of rabies virus-neutralizing anti rabies antibodies, which suggests that the Soviet Union on cooperation in the bodies in cattle inoculated with the V-RG the vaccinia-recombinant virus did not field of medicine and public health was re vaccine by intradermal, subcutaneous and spread from vaccinated animals to non signed last November after an almost total intramuscular routes had been shown to vaccinated animals. lapse of seven years, a protocol was drawn be compatible with protection of these From a scientific point of view, it makes up providing for cooperative research in animals against a lethal challenge dose of no sense for the animals to have been selected fields, including public health and rabies virus (P. Desmettre, personal com killed four months after immunization, laboratory aspects of AIDS. Specifically munication). As the Argentine scientists when they were healthy and unlikely to covered were viral cultures and character raise the question of "possible alteration have been shedding the virus, thus pre ization of strains, including molecular in the tissue localization of the recom venting the acquisition of further valuable structure, and studies of methods of detec binant virus", it should be emphasized information about the efficacy of the re tion of antibody, distribution of anti that in all previous experiments with other combinant vaccine in cattle. In their letter bodies and means of epidemic control. animal models in which the spread of V to Nature, the Argentinian scientists There was no suggestion that this research RG recombinant virus within the body stated: "We are not against the develop was of a purely academic interest to the was monitored, there was no evidence of ment of recombinant vaccine technology Soviet Union. gross or histopathological lesions caused in view of its potential value for effective The castigation by a Soviet deputy by virus infection in any tissues collected disease control". If this was said in all sin minister of health of Western companies post mortem and no evidence of increased cerity, what is their view of the elimination that keep secret their work on AIDS diag neurotropism was detected in laboratory of 40 healthy animals by order of the nostics may at first sight appear to be mere animals inoculated with varying doses of authorities and the consequent failure to propaganda against the greedy, capitalist V-RG recombinant virus by a variety of complete an important scientific experi West. But to anyone raised on a diet of routes. This would indicate that any ment. Is that science or politics? Communist teaching, some Western vaccinia virus-rabies glycoprotein pseudo HILARY KoPROWSKI, EsTEBAN CELIS, commercial practices must seem highly type that might emerge does not enhance PETER CuRTIS, BERNHARD DIETZSCHOLD, unethical. We have been schooled in the the already reduced neurovirulence of V CHARLES RuPPRECHT, MARIA ToLLIS, merits of free enterprise and can rational RG recombinant virus. WILLIAM WuNNER ize that to give a competitor a costless lead In the vaccine trial in Argentina, 40 Rabies Unit, Wistar Institute, would mean less profit for, and ultimately cattle were divided into two groups. On 11 36th Street at Spruce, less research by, the pioneering company. July 1986, ten animals in one group were Philadelphia, Pennsylvania /9104, USA