WASHINGTON, July 14 (AFP) - The combination of two experimental AIDS vaccines boosted immune system defenses against HIV in clinical tests, researcher Robert Belshe told a conference on sexually transmitted diseases.

The tests combined two vaccines -- one that promotes cellular immunity and one that encourages the body to produce HIV-fighting antibodies -- that appeared to produce safe results with mild side effects, Belshe said Tuesday.

The vaccines were tested on a group of 435 people who were not infected with the Human Immune-deficiency Virus that causes AIDS, although more than 80 percent of the group was at high risk for contracting the virus.

Participants in the trial were divided into three groups: one received the vCP205 vaccine to boost cellular immunity and a placebo; one group received that vaccine and the SF-2 rgp120 vaccine to create antibodies; and the third group received two placebos.

More than half of the people who received one vaccine developed antibodies known to fight HIV in the laboratory. More than 90 percent of people who received both vaccines developed the antibodies, said Belshe.

About one-third of participants in both groups strengthened their cellular immunity, he told the International Society for Sexually Transmitted Diseases Research Conference in Denver, Colorado.

But Belshe warned the trial was neither large enough nor conducted over a long enough period of time to determine vaccine efficacy.

Both vaccines were made from pieces of genetically altered HIV.

The vaccine to boost cellular immunity was created by Pasteur Merieux in France, with assistance from the France's national AIDS research center.

The other vaccine was made by Chiron, a California company.

990714
AF990717

Copyright © AFP or Agence France-Presse, 1999 - AFP stories and photos shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, that no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP photos or materials. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP stories, photos or graphics.  http://www.afp.com/