[Letter to Robert Gallo from Jose Esparza]

2.
Dr R. C. Qalloo Retosda, MD. USA
With regard the identity of the cAndidato vaccine, I again referred
Mr Crowdson to the appropriate scientific pulications. However,
Mr Crewdson insisted that new antigens were being used, particularly some
recombinant proteins produced In the M4CI (byPaviakis, I believe he said) X // S
He also said that these antigens were illegally exported fromn the United
States, for use. in human experimentation in Zaire. He shoved me
documentation indicating that these proteins, were in fact given to Daniel,
to be used in animal experiments, and, he sa id, becauise there are no
experimental animals in Zaire, it was obvious that these products were to be
used in humans. Of course I cannot possibly know if these antigens were in
fact used, but I Indicated to Mr Crewdson that Daniel maintains a primate
colony at the Institute de Recherche Biorredicale in Kinshasa, which I have
personally visited.,
Then Kr Crewdson showed me a Western blot that he has had made vith
aserm obtained from a perison (female, I believe) he said was vaccnted with
the recombinant protein. He also showed me, a f igure from a paper describing
the recombinant protein, which corresponded' to the envelope gene. He stated
that he has been informied that the Western blot confirmed that the person
had been vaccinated with the recombinant pr oteain. However, the blot showed
what seemed to be a complete set of virus specific bands, suggesting an
active infection, At th-is point I wondered whether he was trying to trick
me into saying somgthing. The 'Important point was that the blot was not a
lenbloip-,w.-tnr. di-ity lreta ~volope bn'-. As y;cu know, the
Interpretation of Western blots is dif ficult and even in '%,he United States
the problem of indeterminate western blots has made difficult the
serologi1cal evaluation of vaccine recipients (a person with non-specif ic
anti p24 reactivity, after receiiinq an "envelope" vaccine, would be
Indistinguishable of an actively infected person),
As that point in the discussion -T suggested to Mr Crewdson that he
contact Dr Zagury directly. He indicated that he was an invest.4gative
reported and that he preferred to use his own mnethods.
14 hope Bob, that all this is not. Inteerir-g with your work, which has so
critically stimulated scientists from- all over the world and which is so
';asluable to tho scientif ic community in g~neral, Please le me know if I can
be of any help,
Best regards,
'iors sincerely,

10C 4A 11H W 1 X tji S 3 N O

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