Methods for treatment of HIV and other infections using a T cell or viral activator and anti-retroviral combination therapy

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for treating infection with a pathogen. The method involves administration of: (1) a substance which induces active pathogen replication in a cell latently infected with HIV and (2) an anti-pathogen drug. Also disclosed are methods for expanding CD4+ T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from human subjects in the presence of an antiretroviral drug and for treating HIV infection by infusing the expanded CD4+ cells into HIV-infected patients.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
     
     
         22 . An ex vivo method of expanding CD4+ T cells from a sample of peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from a human, comprising culturing a sample of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in cell culture system in the presence of a T cell mitogen and an antiretroviral drug.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the T cell mitogen is a lectin or an antibody.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the T cell mitogen is a bispecific monoclonal antibody having specificity for CD3 and CD8.  
     
     
         25 . A method for treating a patient infected with a pathogen, the method comprising: 
 (a) administering to the patient an amount of a cellular mitogen sufficient to induce activation of cells latently infected with the pathogen and induce replication of the pathogen; and    (b) administering a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-pathogen drug.