In vitro activation of t-lymphocyte

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain activated T-lymphocytes in vitro for the treatment of AIDS by exposing in vitrc to AIDS-related epitopes the lymphocytes from patients infected with the AIDS virus or histocompatible blood donors exposed to AIDS virus-related epitopes. SOLUTION: Lymphocytes separated from patients infected with the AIDS virus or histocompatible blood donors exposed to AIDS virus-related related epitopes are exposed in vitro to AIDS virus epitopes such as AIDS virous' envelope epitopes or gag epitopes, or recombinant microorganisms including recombinant virus auch as vaccinia virus or baculovirus expressing the AIDS virus-related epitopes, to effect activation of T-lymphocytes specific to the AIDS virus, thereby easily activating in vitro the T-lymphocytes useful for immunotherapies in treating patients infected with the AIDS virus. COPYRIGHT: (C)1996,JPO