To evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of an accelerated schedule of recombinant canarypox vaccine ALVAC-HIV MN120TMG (vCP205) versus control followed by boost with rgp120/HIV-1 SF2 vaccine in HIV-negative volunteers.

Frequent injections of ALVAC-HIV vCP205 may result in more rapid induction of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. This trial will evaluate whether an accelerated vaccination schedule can produce immunological responses comparable to those obtained in other trials of ALVAC-HIV vCP205.

Frequent injections of ALVAC-HIV vCP205 may result in more rapid induction of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. This trial will evaluate whether an accelerated vaccination schedule can produce immunological responses comparable to those obtained in other trials of ALVAC-HIV vCP205.

Volunteers are randomized to receive immunization with either ALVAC-HIV vCP205 or ALVAC-RG rabies glycoprotein (vCP65) at days 0, 7, 14, and 21, followed by boost with rgp120/HIV-1 SF2 at days 28 and 84. A third cohort receives ALVAC-HIV vCP65 on the same schedule followed by boost with placebo.

Inclusion Criteria

Volunteers must have:

• Normal history and physical exam.
• Negative ELISA and Western blot for HIV.
• CD4 count >= 400 cells/mm3.
• Normal urine dipstick with esterase and nitrite.
• Lower-risk sexual behavior.

Exclusion Criteria

Co-existing Condition:

Volunteers with the following symptoms or conditions are excluded:

• Positive hepatitis B surface antigen.
• Medical or psychiatric condition (such as recent suicidal ideation or present psychosis) that precludes compliance.
• Occupational responsibilities that preclude compliance.
• Active syphilis. NOTE: Subjects with serology documented to be a false positive or due to a remote (> 6 months) treated infection are eligible.
• Active tuberculosis. NOTE: Subjects with a positive PPD and a normal chest x-ray showing no evidence of TB and not requiring isoniazid therapy are eligible.
• Allergy to egg products or neomycin.
• Occupational exposure to birds.

Volunteers with the following prior conditions are excluded:

• History of immunodeficiency, chronic illness, autoimmune disease, or use of immunosuppressive medications.
• History of anaphylaxis or other serious adverse reactions to vaccines.
• Prior immunization against rabies.
• History of serious allergic reaction to any substance, requiring hospitalization or emergent medical care (e.g., Stevens-Johnson syndrome, bronchospasm, or hypotension).
• Prior psychiatric condition (such as history of suicide attempts or past psychosis) that precludes compliance.
• History of cancer unless there has been surgical excision that is considered to have achieved cure.

Prior Medication:

Excluded:

• Live attenuated vaccines within 60 days prior to study entry. NOTE: Medically indicated killed or subunit vaccines (e.g., influenza, pneumococcal) do not exclude if administered at least 2 weeks from HIV immunizations.
• Experimental agents within 30 days prior to study entry.
• Prior HIV vaccines.
• Prior rabies immunization.

Prior Treatment:

Excluded:

• Blood products or immunoglobulin within 6 months prior to study entry. Identifiable high-risk behavior for HIV infection, such as
• injection drug use within past 12 months.
• higher- or intermediate-risk sexual behavior.