CHEMICALLY MODIFIED HIV ENVELOPE GLYCOPROTEIN

摘要

The invention relates to an HIV envelope glycoprotein in a purified form whi ch can be obtained using a method comprising the following steps: (1) obtaining an envelope glycoprotein in a purified form; (2) reducing at least one disulphide bond of the protein from step (1); (3) alkylating at least two fr ee sulfhydryl groups; (4) optionally, oxidizing the remaining sulfhydryl group; (5) denaturing and (6) renaturing. The invention also relates to the use of the inventive modified HIV envelope glycoprotein in a vaccine against HIV which can be used to induce HIV-neutralising antibodies in a human subject f or therapeutic or prophylactic purposes.