Potential use of serotherapy in the prevention and treatment of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus.

While prevention of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) using prophylactic immunization and treatment with anti-viral drugs would appear to be the methods of choice for the prevention and treatment of this infection, neither safe and effective vaccines nor anti-viral agents have yet been developed. A third approach should thus be considered which could be employed both for prophylaxis and treatment of this disease. This approach utilizes specific, anti-HIV antibodies, passively administered, to prevent and/or slow the infectious process. The disadvantages of using xenogeneic antibodies and the advantages of using human antibodies are discussed. The need for large quantities of human antibodies to HIV necessitates the production of cell lines producing these antibodies. The various techniques of producing these lines are summarized. Finally, preliminary data supporting the feasibility of producing human cell lines producing antibody to HIV are presented.