Salivary antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in a phase I AIDS vaccine trial

HIV-1-specific secretory antibodies may be a desirable outcome in individuals receiving AIDS vaccines. We investigated parotid and whole saliva samples for HIV-specific antibodies collected from five volunteers who received a recombinant HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (rgp160) vaccine. Ten healthy, adult volunteers received intramuscularly either three doses of rgp160 (40 or 80 micrograms), a hepatitis B vaccine, or a placebo on days 0, 30, and 180. Saliva samples were collected on days 0, 28, 60, 120, 194, and 270 from the volunteers. All volunteers were negative for serum HIV antibodies by ELISA (Abbott). By Western blotting, serum antibodies to envelope antigens were demonstrated in one of three individuals who received the low dose vaccine and two of two who received the high dose. Antibodies to gp160 were detected in whole saliva on day 194 from one of these individuals by Western blotting. Parotid saliva collected on all dates did not contain detectable HIV-specific antibodies. The finding of HIV-1-specific antibodies in whole saliva following vaccination may indicate that development of mucosal immunity is possible.