A Phase I Safety and Immunogenicity Trial of Live Recombinant Canarypox ALVAC-HIV (vCP205) and HIV-1 SF-2 rgp120 in HIV-1 Uninfected Volunteers to Evaluate Accelerated Vaccine Schedules

To evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of an accelerated schedule of recombinant canarypox vaccine ALVAC-HIV MN120TMG (vCP205) versus control followed by boost with rgp120/HIV-1 SF2 vaccine in HIV-negative volunteers.

Frequent injections of ALVAC-HIV vCP205 may result in more rapid induction of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. This trial will evaluate whether an accelerated vaccination schedule can produce immunological responses comparable to those obtained in other trials of ALVAC-HIV vCP205.

Frequent injections of ALVAC-HIV vCP205 may result in more rapid induction of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. This trial will evaluate whether an accelerated vaccination schedule can produce immunological responses comparable to those obtained in other trials of ALVAC-HIV vCP205.

Volunteers are randomized to receive immunization with either ALVAC-HIV vCP205 or ALVAC-RG rabies glycoprotein (vCP65) at days 0, 7, 14, and 21, followed by boost with rgp120/HIV-1 SF2 at days 28 and 84. A third cohort receives ALVAC-HIV vCP65 on the same schedule followed by boost with placebo.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria

Volunteers must have:

* Normal history and physical exam.
* Negative ELISA and Western blot for HIV.
* CD4 count \>= 400 cells/mm3.
* Normal urine dipstick with esterase and nitrite.
* Lower-risk sexual behavior.

Exclusion Criteria

Co-existing Condition:

Volunteers with the following symptoms or conditions are excluded:

* Positive hepatitis B surface antigen.
* Medical or psychiatric condition (such as recent suicidal ideation or present psychosis) that precludes compliance.
* Occupational responsibilities that preclude compliance.
* Active syphilis. NOTE: Subjects with serology documented to be a false positive or due to a remote (\> 6 months) treated infection are eligible.
* Active tuberculosis. NOTE: Subjects with a positive PPD and a normal chest x-ray showing no evidence of TB and not requiring isoniazid therapy are eligible.
* Allergy to egg products or neomycin.
* Occupational exposure to birds.

Volunteers with the following prior conditions are excluded:

* History of immunodeficiency, chronic illness, autoimmune disease, or use of immunosuppressive medications.
* History of anaphylaxis or other serious adverse reactions to vaccines.
* Prior immunization against rabies.
* History of serious allergic reaction to any substance, requiring hospitalization or emergent medical care (e.g., Stevens-Johnson syndrome, bronchospasm, or hypotension).
* Prior psychiatric condition (such as history of suicide attempts or past psychosis) that precludes compliance.
* History of cancer unless there has been surgical excision that is considered to have achieved cure.

Prior Medication:

Excluded:

* Live attenuated vaccines within 60 days prior to study entry. NOTE: Medically indicated killed or subunit vaccines (e.g., influenza, pneumococcal) do not exclude if administered at least 2 weeks from HIV immunizations.
* Experimental agents within 30 days prior to study entry.
* Prior HIV vaccines.
* Prior rabies immunization.

Prior Treatment:

Excluded:

* Blood products or immunoglobulin within 6 months prior to study entry. Identifiable high-risk behavior for HIV infection, such as
* injection drug use within past 12 months.
* higher- or intermediate-risk sexual behavior.