HIV-1 gag

The purpose of this study is to test experimental human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccines that use an adenovirus vector. The adenovirus vector may help the vaccines stimulate an immune response. Researchers want to see how the immune system will respond to these vaccines as well as if they are safe to give to people. Participants cannot get HIV from these vaccines. However, researchers also want to see if the vaccine's adenovirus is contagious. Adenoviruses cause cold symptoms or mild eye infections, therefore household and intimate contacts will be asked to participate as well.

Background:
- Vaccines create resistance to disease. This study tests experimental human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccines that use an adenovirus as a transporter. Transporters may help vaccines stimulate an immune response against HIV. This means the body works to fight infection. Researchers want to see if different ways of giving the vaccines cause different immune responses. They also want to see if the vaccines adenovirus is contagious. Adenoviruses cause cold symptoms or mild eye infections.
Participants cannot get HIV from these vaccines. But they can get the adenovirus, so their entire household and intimate contacts must participate.
Objective:
- To test the safety of experimental HIV vaccines.
Eligibility:
- Healthy adults 18-49 years old.
Design:
Participants will be screened with medical history, physical exam, and blood and urine tests.
Participants will receive the vaccine 3 times over 6 months. Each time, they will have a physical exam and blood and urine tests. Samples will be taken from their nose, rectum, and cervix.
Some participants will receive the vaccine by swallowing 11 capsules with water. Clinic staff will observe them for 1 hour.
Some participants will receive the vaccine swabbed in their throat. They will get dose 1 at the hospital and stay there for 1 week. They will have medical tests and nose swabs. Doses 2 and 3 will not require a hospital stay.
Participants will have 7 follow-up visits over 6 months, with a physical exam and blood tests. Samples will be taken from their nose, throat, and rectum.
Household and intimate contacts will have 4 clinic visits over 8 months, with a physical exam and blood tests.

Background:
The primary focus of the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) at the NIH is to develop vaccines for HIV/AIDS. The main purpose of this study is to look in detail at the body s immune response to two experimental HIV vaccines currently in development at the VRC. One is known as the rAd5 vaccine and the other is known as the DNA vaccine. These vaccines are made with pieces of manufactured DNA. They do not contain live or killed HIV. It is impossible for study vaccines to give you HIV and they cannot cause you to give HIV to someone else. Both of these experimental vaccines have been given to people before in other research studies. They have not been approved for treating or preventing HIV infection.
Purpose:
The main purpose of this study is to look in detail at the body s immune responses after the experimental HIV vaccines are given and to assess safety of the study vaccines.
Eligibility:
Healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 and 50 who are not infected with HIV and who meet the eligibility requirements.
Design:
Participants will be screened with a medical history (including questions about sexual history and drug use), physical exam, and blood tests.
The study will have two groups:
One group will receive one injection of the rAd5 vaccine, and have 8 clinic visits over 3 months.
The second group will have three injections of the DNA vaccine, one injection of the rAd5 vaccine, and have 12 clinic visits over 6 months.
All participants will be asked to provide blood and body fluid samples for testing during the study.
Payment for participation will be provided....