Observational Study for the Extended Follow-up of the Patients Enrolled in the Therapeutic Clinical Trial ISS T-002

The primary endpoint of the study is to evaluate the persistence, in term of frequency, magnitude, and quality of the anti-Tat humoral immune response in HAART-treated patients previously immunize with Tat in the ISS T-002 phase II clinical trial.

The secondary endpoint of the study is to identify and validate immunological testing for future efficacy vaccine clinical trials, as follows: Lymphoproliferative response to Tat, anti-Tat γIFN, IL4 and IL2 production; In vitro neutralization of Tat activity (Tat/Env uptake); Lymphocyte subsets; Anti-Tat IgG subclasses; Epitope mapping of anti-Tat IgM and IgG; Anti-HIV regulatory and structural proteins antibodies; ADCC; Neutralization of Tat activity by rescue assay; Neutralization of primary HIV isolates; Anti-CCR5 and Anti-CD4 antibodies; Lymphoproliferative response to Env, mitogens and recall antigens In vitro γIFN, IL4 and IL2 production in response to Tat (ICS) and to Env (ICS/Elispot); B cells phenotype; Characterization of Treg cells; PBMC ICS for granzyme, perforin, cytokines and chemokines; Th1 and Th2 cytokines and chemokines; Lymphocytes spontaneous cell death; B cell cloning; Characterization of clono-specific antibodies; Serum/plasma determination of sCD4.

The secondary endpoint of the study is to identify and validate virological testing for future efficacy vaccine clinical trials, as follows: HIV-1 plasma viremia (viral RNA copies), HIV-1 sequencing and virus phylogenetic analysis, Genotypic resistance, Viral tropism, Anti-HBV antibodies, HBV antigens (HbsAg, HbeAg), Anti-HCV antibodies and plasma viremia, HHV-8 antibodies and plasma viremia, HIV-1 Proviral DNA copies.