EP1737959A2 - Stabilised tat antigen and the use thereof for anti-hiv vaccination - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a vaccine composition comprising at least one type of anti-HIV vaccine composition containing at least one type of stabilised Tat antigen and to the use thereof for preventing and/or treating a human HIV infection.

Description

The present invention relates to a stabilized Tat antigen and to its applications for anti-HIV vaccination. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV type 1 (HIV-1) or type 2 (HIV-2)). This disease is in constant progression and to date more than 42 million people are infected worldwide. This is why the development of a vaccine represents an absolute emergency to fight against this pandemic. Many vaccine approaches have been developed over the past twenty years without leading to the development of an effective vaccine. However, the ever-deeper knowledge of the infectious cycle and of the viral proteins responsible for progression to the AIDS stage has opened the way to the use of promising new vaccine targets: the regulatory proteins of HIV. These proteins, which had first been neglected, have been the subject of numerous studies for several years because of their role in viral replication. Among these proteins, the transcriptional regulator Tat of HIV, represents a particularly interesting vaccine target, insofar as the absence of progression towards the AIDS stage is correlated with the presence of anti-Tat antibodies of high titer and specific cytotoxic cells. (Zagury et al., J. Hum. Virol., 1998,1: 282-292; Re et al., J. Clin. Virol., 2001, 21: 81-89; Van Baalen et al., J. Gen Virol., 1997, 78: 1913-1918). The Tat gene includes 2 exons coding for a protein of 99 to 103 amino acids depending on the strains of HIV. Exon 1, which codes for the first 72 amino acids, has total transactivation activity, and includes 5 domains: (1) the N-terminal domain (positions 1 to 21), which is important for interaction with proteins cells, (2) the cysteine-rich domain (positions 22 to 37) containing 7 cysteine residues (positions 22, 25, 27, 30, 31, 34 and 37) of which 6 are highly conserved, involved in transactivation, ( 3) the central domain (core) corresponding to positions 38 to 48, also involved in transactivation, (4) the basic domain (positions 49 to 57), which includes the sequences involved in nuclear localization, transcellular transport and binding to the TAR response element (Trans-activation response) of the viral LTR (Long Terminal Repeat), and which is also involved in the binding of Tat to heparin , and (5) the domain rich in glutamines (positions 50 to 72). Exon 2 of variable size, code for the C-terminal domain (positions 73 at the C-terminal end) which does not have transactivation activity but contains the RGD motif (arginine-glycine-aspartate; positions 78 to 80) , necessary for the binding of Tat to integrin receptors. In addition to the Tat protein of 99 to 103 amino acids, there is also a truncated Tat protein of 86 amino acids, produced in vitro by generation of a stop codon at position 87, due to the mutation of HIV, during the passage in culture. cellular. It has been shown that the recombinant or synthetic Tat protein, isolated and purified, combines in solution to form very stable oligomers (dimers and trimers), particularly resistant to denaturation and reduction (100 mM DTT; Tosi et al ., Eur. J. Immunol., 2000, 30: 1120-1126). Thus, the preparations of Tat are heterogeneous and include a mixture of monomers, dimers and trimers (US Patent Application 2003/0158134). However, the exact nature of the interactions involved in the formation of Tat oligomers is not known; the existence of disulfide bridges notably involving cysteine at position 37 or other strong chemical interactions, notably involving polyvalent cations, preferably divalent (zinc, cadmium) has been suggested (Battaglia et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 1994, 201: 701-708; Frankel et al., Science, 1988, 240: 70-73; Huang et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm., 1996, 227: 615-621; Misumi and al., Aids Research and Human Retroviruses, 2004, 20: 297-304). Tat is a transcription factor essential for viral replication, (Fisher et al, Nature, 1986, 320: 367-371) which can both activate latent HIV and deregulate the expression of other cellular genes, to the extent where it has the particularity of being released by infected cells and incorporated into other infected or uninfected cells (transcellular transport; Ensoli et al., J Virol, 1993, 67: 277-287; Chang et al., Aids, 997, 11: 1421-1431). Tat has been shown to have toxic effects in vitro. These effects include: deregulation of the cellular signals involved in apoptosis, the deregulation of the expression of parts of genes of the immune system such as the gene of interleukin 2 and of interferon alpha, or of genes coding for the molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and class II, and / or induction of angiogenesis. The relative role of different forms of Tat in viral infection has not been elucidated and their role in anti-viral immunity has not been studied. Indeed, it would appear that the Tat oligomers have no biological activity insofar as, on the one hand, the extracellular Tat protein produced from mammalian cells is monomeric and, on the other hand, the inhibition of the Tat-activating activity using antibodies specifically recognizing the different forms of Tat, indicates that only the monomer is capable of entering cells and of transactivating viral LTR (Rice et al., Virology, 1991, 185: 451-454; Tosi et al., Supra). Thus, Tat has many biological activities and could play a role, both in viral dissemination and in pathogenesis: progression to the AIDS stage and pathologies associated with AIDS, such as Kaposi's sarcoma. As a result, although an unmodified, biologically active Tat protein is able to protect monkeys from HIV-1 infection

(Cafaro et al., Nat. Med., 1999, 5: 643-650), it is not possible to use a toxic protein as an immunogen for human vaccination. This is why various approaches have been envisaged for obtaining biologically inactive Tat derivatives, which can be used as a vaccine in humans. The inactivation mainly concerned the elimination of Tat's ability to transactivate the transcription of the viral genome and then other activities, such as the inhibition of the suppression of T cell proliferation. These works led to the discovery of biologically inactive derivatives of Tat, obtained by: - mutations in the sequence of the Tat gene: (i) deletions of the -NH ₂ or -COOH ends, or else deletion or substitution of cysteine residues (International Application WO 95/31999) , (ii) conservative substitution of all cysteine residues from the domain rich in cysteines (cysteine - »serine; International Application WO 03/054006), (iii) substitution of at least two amino acid residues positions 49 to 72 and / or 73 to 101, in particular positions 49 to 57 (K51T, R52L, R55L, R57L), of the RGD domain (G79A) or positions 88 to 92 (K89L, E92Q), and optionally cysteine in position 27 (C27S), (International Application WO 03/057885), and (iv) deletion of an amino acid residue (C22, T23, N24, Y26, K28 / 29, C30, C31, F32, K33, E35, F38, K41, Y47, A57) or substitution of an amino acid residue (T23A, N24A, C22G, K41T; International Application WO 99/27958), - analysis of mutations of the Tat gene naturally present in non-progressive HIV-positive individuals: variants of the N-terminal region or of exon 2 (International Application WO 01/12220); variant from the isolate Oyi, having the substitution C22S (International Application WO 00/61067), - chemical or physical treatments of the Tat protein: (i) treatment with an aldehyde such as formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde (International Application PCT WO 96/27389), (ii) carboxymethylation of cysteines using iodoacetic acid or iodoacetamide (PCT International Application WO 99/33872), and (iii) oxidation, in particular by hydrogen peroxide or periodate sodium or irradiation (US Patent Application 2003/0215797; International Application WO 01/12220; Cohen et al, PNAS, 1999, 96: 10842-10847), and - purification of the recombinant Tat protein by a process allowing the elimination of contaminating RNA and endotoxin (PCT International Application WO 03/073984). In particular, it has been shown that a Tat derivative whose cysteines 22 and 37 are substituted with serines is immunogenic (Caselli et al., J. Immunol., 1999, 162: 5631-5638) and that a carboxymethylated derivative de Tat is immunogenic and capable of inducing a slowdown in the progression of the disease in monkeys (Pauza et al., PNAS, 2000, 97, 3515-3519). These results indicate that a biologically active or previously inactivated Tat immunogen may contribute to the establishment of an effective HIV vaccine. However, the effectiveness of a vaccine largely depends on its ability to induce a strong immune response. However, the Tat molecule is known for its immunosuppressive capacities (Cohen et al., Cited above) and is weakly immunogenic in animals, in particular in monkeys. Thus, the slowing down of the disease induced by the carboxymethylated Tat toxoid requires a series of 5 immunizations (Pauza et al., PNAS, 2000, 97: 3515-3519) and the protection provided by the biologically active Tat molecule was obtained after a series of 9 to 10 immunizations, according to the protocols (Cafaro et al., Cited above). Consequently, to develop an effective vaccine against HIV, there is a real need to develop a Tat-derived antigen exhibiting an increased immunogenicity compared to that of the Tat antigens of the prior art. The inventors have set themselves the goal of developing such an antigen. The inventors have shown that, surprisingly, the Tat protein is very unstable and rapidly degraded by proteolytic enzymes. The demonstration of this characteristic of Tat led them to put forward the hypothesis according to which the improvement of the stability of Tat should decrease its proteolytic susceptibility and increase its half-life in the organism, as well as its immunogenicity. This hypothesis was validated by comparing the immunogenicity of unmodified Tat to that of Tat previously stabilized, either by formation of a complex with a ligand, or by incorporation of hydrophobic groups. In comparison with unmodified Tat or a Tat toxoid whose cysteines are blocked by acetamidomethyl groups which are not very immunogenic, the stabilized Tat derivatives induce anti-Tat antibody titers at least 10 times higher in animals ( factor 10 to 35) and are capable of inducing a specific Tat cell response. In addition, these derivatives have an altered transactivating activity indicating an absence of toxicity. The present invention therefore relates to an anti-HIV vaccine composition, characterized in that it comprises at least one stabilized Tat antigen, resistant to proteolytic degradation, which stabilized Tat antigen being selected from the group consisting of: a) a complex between an HIV Tat protein or a Tat fragment of at least 11 amino acids, and a non-metallic Tat ligand, b) an HIV Tat protein or a Tat fragment of at least 11 amino acids, modified by substitution with a hydrophobic amino acid and / or modification by a hydrophobic group, of at least one amino acid of the sequence of Tat, excluding the substitutions R52L, R55L, R57L, R78A, G79A, E80A and K89L, and c) a complex between the Tat protein or the Tat fragment modified by substitution with a hydrophobic amino acid and / or modification by a hydrophobic group, of at least one amino acid of the Tat sequence defined in b), and a non-metallic ligand of Tat. The combination of the two modifications in c) advantageously makes it possible to obtain an increase in the immunogenicity of Tat greater (by at least a factor of five), than that obtained with only one of the modifications, in a) or in b). Definitions - Tat antigen is understood to mean a monomer or an oligomer, in particular a dimer of a Tat protein or of a fragment of this protein of at least 11 amino acids, capable of inducing a specific humoral and / or cellular response. in a human or animal mammal; said Tat antigen is either biologically active or inactivated by mutation of the sequence of the Tat gene, in particular by the substitution in serine (s), of cysteine residue (s) from the region rich in cysteines, or else by treatment physical (irradiation) or chemical (action of an aldehyde, oxidation) of Tat, as defined above. - The term “Tat oligomer” is understood to mean the association of Tat monomers (protein and / or fragment) which are identical or different from one another (homo- or hetero-oligomers), by one or more covalent and / or non-covalent bonds. The covalent oligomers result in particular from the formation of disulfide bridge (s) by oxidation of cysteine residues or from the formation of other chemical bond (s) (oxime, hydrazone), or even from the reaction with homobifunctional groups such as glutaraldehyde or heterobifunctional groups such as 3 - (((2-aminoethyl) dithio) propionic hydrochloride. The non-covalent oligomers can be formed via units of the leucine-zipper type or of metal ions, such as zinc or cadmium. - By Tat protein (or Tat) is meant the Tat protein of any strain of HIV (HIV-1 or HIV-2), corresponding to a sequence of approximately 86 to 103 amino acids, depending on the strains. - The term “non-metallic Tat ligand” is understood to mean a compound other than a metal ion, which is capable of binding to Tat or to a fragment of Tat; it can be protein, lipid, carbohydrate, nucleotide (DNA, RNA) or mixed (glycolipid, glycoprotein) in nature. It includes in particular: the HIV Vpr protein; polysulphated sugars such as for example: dextran sulphate, pentosane polysulphate and polysulphated glycosaminoglycans, in particular heparin, heparan sulphate and the compounds as described in Rusnati et al., J. Biol. Chem. 1998, 273: 16027-16037. - The term metallic ligand for Tat is understood to mean metal ions, in particular polyvalent cations, preferably divalent, such as zinc (Zn ²⁺ ) and cadmium (Cd ²⁺ ). - By stabilized Tat antigen is meant a derivative of the Tat protein or of the Tat fragment as defined above, comprising a physical or chemical modification such that after 2 hours of digestion with chymotrypsin (enzyme / substrate ratio of 1 / 50 (P / P)), the proportion of Tat derivative recognized by an anti-Tat monoclonal antibody directed against the epitope (KGLGISYGRK) of the core region is at least 20% greater, preferably at least 50% greater than the proportion of unmodified Tat recognized by the same antibody, following the same enzymatic digestion. - Hydrophobic amino acid means a natural amino acid chosen from: L (leucine), V (valine), I (isoleucine), A (alanine), M (methionine), F

(phenylalanine), W (tryptophan) or Y (tyrosine), either a non-proteinogenic amino acid, whose carbon carrying the side chain R, namely the group -CHR-, located between -CO- and -NH- in the natural peptide chain is replaced by a motif which is not part of the constitution of a natural protein or peptide. By way of nonlimiting example, mention may be made of Norleucine (Nie) and cyclohexaalanine (Cha). - The term “hydrophobic group” is intended to mean an alkyl or an aryl such as, for example: S-tert-butyl, neopentyl, isobutyl, isopropyl, 1-methylpropyl, benzyl, indoyl or a naphthyl. Said hydrophobic group can be introduced onto the amino acid using a reagent of the l-iodo-2,2-dimethylpropane, α-bromo-toluene, ter-butyl disulfide, N-ter-Butylacrylamide type. The amino acid residues of Tat or of the Tat fragment which are modified by said hydrophobic group are the polar or charged amino acids which can be functionalized. Among these amino acids, there may be mentioned those having the following reactive functions: -OH [serine

(S), threonine (T) or tyrosine (Y)], -SH [cysteine (C)], -NH ₂ [lysine (K) or arginine

(R)], -COOH [aspartic acid (D) or glutamic acid (E)]. According to an advantageous embodiment of said vaccine composition, said non-metallic Tat ligand is of protein, lipid, carbohydrate, nucleotide or mixed nature. According to an advantageous arrangement of this embodiment of said vaccine composition, said non-metallic ligand is a polysulfate sugar chosen from: dextran sulfate, pentosan polysulfate and polysulfated glycosaminoglycans such as heparin and heparan sulfate. Preferably, said Tat / sugar polysulfate complex, for example a Tat / heparin complex, is an equimolar complex. Preferably, said heparin is a heparin with a molecular weight of 15,000 Da or a heparin fragment with a molecular weight of 6000 Da, which bind to Tat with a high affinity. According to another advantageous arrangement of this embodiment of said vaccine composition, said non-metallic Tat ligand is the Vpr protein of

HIV. According to another advantageous embodiment of said vaccine composition, said Tat protein or said Tat fragment are modified by substitution and / or modification of 1 to 7 cysteines, located in positions 22, 25, 27, 30, 31, 34 and / or 37. Preferably, said cysteine is modified by an S-tert-butyl group (CysStBu) or substituted by a hydrophobic amino acid selected from the group consisting of: a leucine, a tryptophan and a phenylalanine. Preferably, at least the four cysteines in position 25, 27, 30 and 31 are substituted by a hydrophobic amino acid and / or modified by a hydrophobic group as defined above. According to yet another advantageous embodiment of said vaccine composition, said stabilized Tat antigen is derived from a Tat protein or from an inactivated Tat fragment (inactivated Tat antigen), preferably comprising the substitution of each of the cysteines in positions 22, 34 and 37 in serines (TatC (22,34,37) S, or alternatively the substitution of each of the arginines in positions 52 and 53 in glutamines (TatR (52,53) Q). Preferably, it is a Tat antigen in which the cysteines in positions 22, 34 and 37 are substituted in serines and the cysteines in positions 25, 27, 30 and 31 are modified by an S-tert-butyl group. or substituted with leucine, tryptophan or phenylalanine. Such an antigen has both a high immunogenic power and an absence of toxicity, indicated by an absence of transactivating power of viral LTR. According to yet another advantageous embodiment of said composition, said Tat protein or the fragment of said protein are chosen from: the Tat protein of 101 amino acids (Tat101), the Tat protein of 86 amino acids (Tat86), fragment 1 to 57 of Tat and the fragments of minus 11 amino acids included in the preceding proteins or fragment, preferably those comprising from 11 to 50 amino acids, preferably those comprising between 11 and 35 amino acids, even more preferably those comprising between 15 and 25 amino acids. According to yet another advantageous embodiment of said vaccine composition, said stabilized Tat antigen is derived from the Tat protein of SEQ ID NO: 1 or from a fragment of at least 11 amino acids of this protein. According to yet another advantageous embodiment of said vaccine composition, said Tat protein or said Tat fragment in a) are also complexed with a metal Tat ligand chosen from polyvalent cations, preferably divalent, such as zinc (Zn ^{2 +} ) or cadmium (Cd ²⁺ ); the Tat complex in a) thus comprises both a metallic ligand and a non-metallic ligand. According to yet another advantageous embodiment of said vaccine composition, said Tat protein or said Tat fragment modified in b) or in c) are also complexed with a metal Tat ligand chosen from polyvalent cations, preferably divalent, such than zinc (Zn ⁺ ) or cadmium (Cd ²⁺ ); the Tat complexes modified in b) and in c) thus respectively comprise a non-metallic ligand, and both a metallic ligand and a non-metallic ligand. According to yet another advantageous embodiment of said vaccine composition, said Tat protein or said Tat fragment are monomers. According to yet another advantageous embodiment of said vaccine composition, said Tat protein or said Tat fragment are oligomers formed by the covalent and / or non-covalent association of Tat monomers (protein (s) and / or fragment ( s)), preferably, they are dimers. The covalently associated oligomers comprise in particular at least one intermolecular disulfide bond involving a cysteine residue of the amino acid sequence of Tat, in particular a cysteine from the region rich in cysteines, preferably one of the cysteines in position 22 , 34 or 37. According to the invention, at least one of the cysteines which is not involved in a disulfide bridge, can be substituted by a hydrophobic group and / or modified by a hydrophobic group as defined above , the residual cysteines being for example substituted into an amino acid not comprising a sulfhydrile group such as serine. Alternatively, the oligomers can also be combined non-covalently via metal ions such as zinc or cadmium. According to yet another advantageous embodiment of said vaccine composition, the Tat protein and / or the Tat fragment of the complex in a) or c), or else the Tat protein and / or the Tat fragment modified in b), are in the form of a polynucleotide or of a recombinant vector coding for said protein and / or said fragment. The stabilized Tat antigens according to the invention are in particular represented by: a) a complex between a Tat protein of 101 amino acids (Tat101) or 86 amino acids (Tat86) and a polysulfate sugar such as dextran sulfate, pentosan polysulfate and heparin, in particular an equimolar complex, for example a complex with a heparin with a molecular weight of 15,000 Da or a heparin fragment with a molecular weight of 6,000 Da, b) a Tat protein of 101 amino acids (Tat101) or 86 amino acids (Tat86) comprising a cysteine modified by an S-tertio-butyl group in positions 22, 25, 27, 30, 31, 34 and 37, c) a Tat protein of 101 amino acids (Tat101) or 86 acids amines (Tat86) comprising a serine in positions 22, 34 and 37 and a cysteine modified by an S-tertio-butyl group in positions 25, 27, 30 and 31, d) a Tat protein of 101 amino acids (Tat101) or 86 amino acids (Tat86) comprising a leucine, in positions 22, 25, 27, 30, 31, 34 and 37, e) a Tat protein of 101 amino acids ( Tat101) or 86 amino acids (Tat86) comprising a phenylalanine, in positions 22, 25, 27, 30, 31, 34 and 37, f) a Tat protein of 101 amino acids (Tat101) or 86 amino acids (Tat86) comprising a tryptophan, in positions 22, 25, 27, 30, 31, 34 and 37, g) a Tat dimer formed from the association by a disulfide bridge between the cysteines in position 34, of two Tat proteins or of two fragments modified Tat, comprising a serine at positions 22 and 37 and a leucine at positions 25, 27, 30 and 31, h) a complex between a Tat protein or a Tat dimer as defined in b), c), d) , e), f) or g) and a polysulphate sugar such as dextran sulphate, pentosan polysulphate or heparin, in particular an equimolar complex, for example with a molar heparin ring of 15,000 Da or a heparin fragment with a molecular weight of 6000 Da, and i) a complex between a non-covalent oligomer of Tat proteins of 101 or 86 amino acids and / or Tat fragments, optionally inactivated and / or modified as defined in the present invention, and a polysulfate sugar such as dextran sulfate, pentosan polysulfate or heparin, in which the oligomer of

Tat is formed by the non-covalent association via Zn ²⁺ ions. It is in particular an equimolar complex, for example with a heparin of molecular weight of 15,000 Da or a fragment of heparin of molecular weight of 6000 Da. According to yet another embodiment of said vaccine composition, it comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle, and / or a carrier substance, and / or an adjuvant. According to an advantageous arrangement of this embodiment, said vaccine composition consists of a stabilized antigen as defined above and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle, and / or a carrier substance. The vaccine composition according to the invention is in a dosage form suitable for administration by parenteral (subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous), enteral (oral, sublingual), or local (rectal, vaginal). Pharmaceutically acceptable vehicles, carrier substances and adjuvants are those conventionally used. The adjuvants are advantageously chosen from the group consisting of: oily emulsions, mineral substances, bacterial extracts, saponin, aluminum hydroxide, monophosphoryl-lipid A and squalene. The carrier substances are advantageously selected from the group consisting of: unilamellar or multilamellar liposomes, ISCOMS, virosomes, viral-like particles (virus-like particles), saponin micelles, solid microspheres of saccharide nature (poly ( lactide-co-glycolide)) or gold, and nanoparticles. According to another advantageous arrangement of this embodiment, said vaccine composition comprises alumina hydroxide. According to yet another advantageous arrangement of this embodiment, said vaccine composition comprises at least one other HIV antigen, in particular Rev, Nef, gag, gp 160 or a fragment of at least 11 amino acids of said antigens. The present invention also relates to a stabilized Tat antigen as defined above as a vaccine for the prevention and / or treatment of an HIV infection in humans. The present invention also relates to the use of a stabilized Tat antigen as defined above, for the preparation of a vaccine intended for the prevention and / or treatment of an HIV infection in humans. . The present invention also relates to a peptide complex, characterized in that it consists of: - an HIV Tat protein or a Tat fragment of at least 11 amino acids, modified by substitution with a hydrophobic amino acid and / or the modification by a hydrophobic group of at least one amino acid of the Tat sequence, as defined above, associated with - a metallic ligand of Tat, and / or a non-metallic ligand of Tat as defined above -above. The present invention also relates to a protein or peptide fragment, characterized in that they are chosen from an HIV Tat protein or a Tat fragment of at least 11 amino acids, modified by substitution with a hydrophobic amino acid and / or the modification by a hydrophobic group of at least one amino acid of the Tat sequence, as defined above, excluding the substitutions R52L, R55L, R57L, R78A, G79A, E80A and K89L. The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of a stabilized Tat antigen, characterized in that it comprises at least: - the preparation, by any appropriate means, of an HIV Tat protein or of a fragment of Tat as defined above, and simultaneously or sequentially, - the formation of a complex with a Tat ligand as defined above and / or the substitution with a hydrophobic amino acid and / or the modification by a hydrophobic group, of at least one of the amino acid residues of the Tat sequence, as defined above. The present invention also relates to the use of a metal ion, preferably a polyvalent cation, preferably a divalent cation, such as Zn ²⁺ and Cd ²⁺ , to stabilize the Tat protein of HIV. or a fragment of at least 11 amino acids from Tat; the use of a metal ion as defined above stabilizes Tat by protecting it against proteolytic degradation and by inhibiting the formation of covalent oligomeric forms. The present invention also relates to a polynucleotide (DNA or RNA) or a mixture of polynucleotides selected from the group consisting of: a) a polynucleotide or a mixture of polynucleotides comprising the sequence coding for an HIV Tat protein or a Tat fragment at least 11 amino acids and the sequence coding for a Tat peptide ligand, as defined above, and b) a polynucleotide comprising the sequence coding for an HIV Tat protein or a Tat fragment of at least 11 amino acids, modified by substitution by a hydrophobic amino acid of at least one amino acid of the sequence Tat as defined above, excluding the substitutions R52L, R55L, R57L R78A, G79A, E80A and K89L. According to the invention, the coding sequences of the Tat protein and / or of the fragment of said protein and of the Tat peptide ligand are included in a single polynucleotide or else in two separate polynucleotides. The present invention also relates to a recombinant vector or a mixture of two recombinant vectors comprising an insert constituted respectively by, the polynucleotide defined in a) or in b) and each of the two polynucleotides of the mixture defined in a). Preferably, said recombinant vector is an expression vector in which said polynucleotide (s) are placed under the control of appropriate transcription and translation regulatory elements. The present invention also relates to prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells transformed by a recombinant vector or a mixture of recombinant vectors as defined above. Many vectors into which a polynucleotide of interest can be inserted in order to introduce and maintain it in a eukaryotic host cell are known in themselves; the choice of an appropriate vector depends on the envisaged use for this vector (for example replication of the sequence of interest, expression of this sequence, maintenance of the sequence in extrachromosomal form or else integration into the chromosomal material of the host ), as well as the nature of the host cell. Among other things, viral vectors such as adenoviruses, retroviruses, lentiviruses and AAVs, in which the sequence of interest has been inserted, may be used. It is also possible to insert the polynucleotide of interest into the sequence coding for a vector surface protein, at a site allowing exposure of the Tat antigen, on the surface of the vector; it is possible in particular to insert the polynucleotide coding for Tat or a fragment of Tat in the sequence of a viral capsid protein, so as to expose Tat on the surface of the particles of recombinant virus. Said polynucleotides (isolated or inserted into a plasmid vector) can also be introduced into host cells, either by using physical methods such as electroporation or microinjection, or by combining them. ciant to any (s) substance (s) allowing the passage of the plasma membrane, such as transporters such as nanotransporters, liposomes, lipids or cationic polymers. In addition, these methods can advantageously be combined, for example by using electroporation associated with liposomes. The polynucleotides, the recombinant vectors and the transformed cells as defined above are useful in particular for the production of the Tat antigens stabilized according to the invention or as a vaccine for the prevention and / or treatment of an HIV infection in the man. The polynucleotides according to the invention are obtained by the conventional methods, known in themselves, by following standard protocols such as those described in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (Frederick M. AUSUBEL, 2000, Wiley and son Inc, Library of Congress , USA). For example, they can be obtained by amplification of a nucleic sequence by PCR or RT-PCR, by screening of genomic DNA libraries by hybridization with a homologous probe, or else by total or partial chemical synthesis. Recombinant vectors are constructed and introduced into host cells by conventional recombinant DNA and genetic engineering methods, which are known per se. The Tat protein and its fragments, as well as the derived peptide complexes and the modified proteins and peptides, as defined above, are prepared by the conventional techniques known to those skilled in the art, in particular by solid phase synthesis. or liquid or by expression of recombinant DNA in an appropriate cellular system (eukaryotic or prokaryotic). More specifically: - the Tat protein and its fragments comprising amino acids modified by a hydrophobic group are synthesized in solid phase, according to the F oc technique, originally described by Merrifield et al. (J. Am. Chem. Soc, 1964, 85: 2149-) (1964) and purified by high performance liquid chromatography in reverse phase, - the Tat protein and its fragments comprising amino acids substituted by hydrophobic amino acids are produced at starting from the corresponding cDNAs, obtained by any means which makes it possible to introduce mutations into a DNA sequence known to those skilled in the art; cDNA is cloned into a vector of eukaryotic or prokaryotic expression and the protein or fragment produced in the cells modified by the recombinant vector are purified by any appropriate means, in particular by affinity chromatography, and - the peptide complexes are prepared by contacting a ligand ( s) of Tat with Tat or a fragment thereof under conditions allowing the partners to interact. The Tat antigens according to the invention have the following advantages over the antigens of the prior art: - because of their increased stability, they are more immunogenic; the anti-Tat antibody titers in animals are at least 10 times higher than those obtained by immunization with unmodified Tat or the Tat toxoid whose cysteines are blocked by acetamidomethyl groups, - they induce times a humoral and cellular response; comparative studies show that under the same conditions, unmodified Tat induces a weak humoral response but is not capable of inducing a cellular response, - they have an alteration in their transactivating activity which indicates an absence of toxicity, - they are homogeneous (preparation by reproducible processes) and well defined. In addition to the above arrangements, the invention also comprises other arrangements which will emerge from the description which follows, which refers to examples of use of the stabilized Tat antigen of the present invention, as well as to the drawings appended in which: - Figure 1 illustrates the dichroic analysis of the structure of Tat86 (B) and Tat101 (•). Each spectrum is the result of four measurements in the far UV region (190 nm-250 nm), obtained at a resolution of 0.2 nm, with an integration time of 0.5 sec and a bandwidth of 2 nm, on Tat86 and Tat101 protein samples at a concentration of 15 μM in 5 mM potassium phosphate buffer pH 7.0, - Figure 2 illustrates the kinetics of proteolysis of Tat101; protein

Free Tat101 (TAT-101SH; 10 μg / 100 μl) was incubated at 37 ° C in the presence of trypsin (upper panel) or chymotrypsin (lower panel), in buffer 50 mM potassium phosphate, pH 7 (enzyme / substrate ratio 1/200 (P / P)). The peptide fragments generated at different digestion times (30 sec, 1 min, 2 min, 5 min and 6 min) are indicated by arrows indicating the cleavage sites of trypsin (basic amino acids: arginine (R) or lysine ( K)) or chymotrypsin (aromatic amino acids: tyrosine (Y), phenylalanine (F) or tryptophan (W) then hydrophobic aliphatic amino acids: leucine (L) or isoleucine (I), in decreasing preferential order). FIG. 3 illustrates the comparative analysis by high performance liquid chromatography in reverse phase of the profile of the peptides generated by enzymatic digestion of Tat101 (10 g / 100 μl) and of each of the equimolar complexes Tat101 / heparin (corresponding to 10 g of Tat101 in 100 μl). The protein Tat101 (*) and the complexes Tat101 / Hep 3000 (•), Tat101 / Hep 6000 (M) and Tat101 / Hep 15000 (D) were incubated for 15 min at 37 ° C. in the presence of trypsin, in phosphate buffer. of potassium 50 mM, pH 7 (enzyme / substrate ratio 1/200 (P / P)). The arrow indicates the position of non-degraded Tat101, - Figure 4 illustrates the comparative analysis in ELISA, of the immunogenicity of Tat101, Tat101 / Hepl5000 and Tat101 / Hep6000 in BALB / c mice. The values indicated correspond to the reverse of the antibody titer, measured 14 days and 28 days after the last immunization, - Figure 5 represents the antigenic profile of the sera produced by immunization of BALB / c mice with Tat101 (A) and Tat101 / Hep6000 (B). The sera are tested by ELISA against 18 overlapping peptides with a length of 15 amino acids, representing the entire Tat sequence (peptides 1 to 18). The absorbance values are expressed in milli-units of optical density (mUDO), - Figure 6 represents the peptide mapping of the fragments generated by digestion with pronase E, of free Tat86 (TAT86: lower panel) or Tat86 modified by S-tertio-butyl groups (TAT86 C (22-37) StBu: upper panel). Digestion is carried out for 15 min at 37 ° C. in 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7, with an enzyme / substrate ratio of 1/20 (P / P) and a Tat substrate at the final concentration of 10 μg / 20 μl. , - Figure 7 represents the peptide mapping of the fragments generated by digestion with pronase E, of free Tat101 (T ATI 01: lower panel) or Tat101 modified by S-tert-butyl groups (TAT101 C (22-37) StBu: upper panel). Digestion is carried out for 15 min at 37 ° C. in 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7, with an enzyme / substrate ratio of 1/20 (P / P) and a Tat substrate at the final concentration of 10 μg / 20 μl. , - Figure 8 illustrates the comparative analysis in ELISA, of the immunogenicity of Tat101 and Tat101C (22-37) StBu in BALB / c mice. The values indicated correspond to the reverse of the antibody titer, measured 25 days, 35 days and 47 days after the last immunization, - Figure 9 illustrates the comparative analysis in ELISA, of the immunogenicity of Tat86, Tat86C ( 22-37) StBu, Tat86C (22-37) L and a Tat toxoid prepared by carboxamide (Tat86C (22-37) Scam) in BALB / c mice. The values indicated correspond to the reverse of the antibody titer, measured 14 days and 28 days after the last immunization. FIG. 10 illustrates the comparative analysis in ELISA of the immunogenicity of the Tat86C (22-37) S, Tat86C (22-37) F, Tat86C (22-37) W derivatives and

Tat86C (22-37) L in BALB / c mice. The values indicated correspond to the reverse of the antibody titer, measured 14 days and 28 days after the last immunization - FIG. 11 illustrates the comparative analysis in ELISA, of the binding of Tat86, Tat86C (22-37) StBu and Tat86C (22-37) L, with heparin 6000. The absorbance values are expressed in milli-units of optical density (mUDO), - Figure 12 illustrates the comparative analysis in ELISA, of the immunogenicity of Tat86C (22-37) StBu and Tat86C (22-37) L, in free form or complexed with heparin. The values indicated correspond to the reverse of the antibody titer, measured 14 days and 28 days after the last immunization. FIG. 13 illustrates the ELISA analysis of the immunogenicity of Tat101 / Hep6000, Tat101C (22,34,37) S, C (25,27,30,31) StBu / Hep6000, Tat86 / Hep6000, Tat86C ( 22-37) StBu / Hep6000 and Tat86C (22-37) L / Hep6000, in the absence of adjuvant, in SWISS mice (non-consanguineous). The values indicated correspond to the reverse of the antibody titer, measured 14 days after the last immunization. - Figure 14 illustrates the cellular response induced by immunization with Tat86 (A), Tat86C (22-37) StBu (B) and Tat86C (22-37) StBu / Hep6000 (C). The incorporation of tritiated thymidine by the splenocytes of the immunized mice was measured after stimulation with increasing concentrations of Tat (0.01 to 0.5 μM). FIG. 15 (A, B and C) illustrates the reduction in the transactivating power of the Tat derivatives. Hela cells transfected with a reporter plasmid containing the GFP gene under the transcriptional control of the HIV-1 LTR were incubated in the presence of chloroquine and Tat or Tat derivatives. FIG. 16 illustrates the comparative analysis in ELISA, of the immunogenicity of Tat101, Tat101 / PPS and Tat101 / Dextran, in BALB / c mice. The values indicated correspond to the reverse of the antibody titer, measured 14 days and 28 days after a single immunization in the presence of aluminum hydroxide. FIG. 17 illustrates the comparative analysis in ELISA of the immunogenicity, in the absence of an adjuvant, of Tat101 and of an inactivated derivative 04- (Tat101R (52.53) Q), complexed with Zn and / or heparin, or not complexed, in the SWISS mouse. The values indicated correspond to the reverse of the antibody titer, measured 14 days and 28 days after the last immunization. - Figure 18 illustrates the analysis by electrophoresis using a non-crosslinked gel, the effect of Zn ²⁺ on the appearance of oligomeric forms of Tat. Tat101 (58 μM final) was incubated in PBS buffer (pH 7.4), in the presence of ZnCl ₂ (in excess of a factor of 6 compared to the cysteines in Tat) or in the absence of ZnCl ₂ , for different time (T), at room temperature, without shaking, in the dark. At the end of the incubation, the samples were treated with maleimide (20 mM), so as to block the reactive cysteines and avoid the formation of disulfide bridges during denaturation or migration of the samples in the gel. The samples were then denatured in the presence of SDS, at 95 ° C, for 7 minutes before loading onto the gel. Tat 101 incubated in the absence of ZnCl ₂ (Line 1: T = 0 min; Line 2: T = 1 hour; Line 3: T = 24 hours; Line 4: T = 5 days). Tat 101 incubated in the presence of ZnCl ₂ (Line 5: T = 1 hour; Line 6: T = 5 days). - Figure 19 illustrates the absence of effect on the power of Tat transactivation, the stabilization of Tat by Zn ⁺ . Hela cells transfected with a reporter plasmid containing the GFP gene under the transcriptional control of LTR of HIV-1 were incubated in the presence of chloroquine and different concentrations of Tat (nM), previously incubated with ZnCl ₂ , or non- _preincubated with ZnCl _2ι then the cell fluorescence was analyzed by flow cytometry. Example 1 Preparation of Tat and its Derivatives The Tat protein corresponds to that of the NDK isolate from HIV-1

(Groenink et al., J. Virol., 1991, 65, 1968-1975), the sequence of which is presented in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO: 1). This protein is hereinafter called Tat101. By analogy, fragment 1 to 86 of this protein is hereinafter called Tat86 (SEQ ID NO: 2). The NDK HIV-1 isolate (SEQ ID NO: 1) represents the consensus sequence obtained from 66 sequences of primary NIH-1 isolates reported in the SWISSPROT and TrEMBL databases between 1999 and 2000. 1) Synthesis chemical reaction of Tat and its S-tert-butyl derivatives (TatStBu) The chemical synthesis of Tat is carried out in solid phase on an APPLIED BIOSYSTEMS 433A device, using the Fmoc / tert-butyl strategy known to those skilled in the art. The seven cysteine residues of the region rich in cysteines are protected by an S-tert-butyl group (S (tBu)). Briefly, the synthesis scale is 1 mM, i.e. 500 mg of Fmoc-Asp resin (OtBu) -PAL-PEG- PS at 0.2 mmol / g for Tat101, and 476 mg of Fmoc-Glu resin (OtBu) -PÀL-PEG-PS at 0.21 mmol / g for Tat86. 1 mM of each protected amino acid is used for each coupling cycle. The activation of each amino acid Fmoc is carried out using the dicyclohexylcarboiimide / 1-hydroxy-7azabenzotriazole pair; the coupling is carried out in the presence of 0.25M diisopropylethylamine / Ν-methyl pyrrolidone. The cleavage of the resin and the deprotection (1 h and 30 min) are carried out by mixing the dried resin (under vacuum overnight), with 10 ml of a solution of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA: 9.5) / triisopropylsilane (0.25) / water (0.25; VN / V). After filtration on a frit, the reaction mixture is precipitated from 100 ml of cooled tert-butyl methyl ether (4 ° C), centrifuged for 15 minutes at 2500 rpm. The solid obtained is dissolved in 50 ml of a 15% aqueous solution of acetic acid, then lyophilized. The crude synthesis obtained is purified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in reverse phase, on a semi-preparative column C4 (21x 250 mm, 5 μM, 300 Å JUPITER). The fraction homogenized for each derivative synthesized (Tat86C (22-37) StBu and Tatl01C (22- 37) StBu) is characterized by its amino acid composition and by mass spectrometry. A similar strategy was used to produce a Tat101 derivative in which cysteines 22, 34 and 37 are replaced by serines and cysteines 25, 27, 30 and 31 are protected by an S-tert-butyl group (Tat101C (22 , 34.37) S, C (25.27, 30, 31) StBu). Tat86 and Tat101 are obtained from the preceding derivatives (Tat86C (22-37) StBu and Tat101C (22-37) StBu), by deprotection of the StButyle groups. Briefly, 1 equivalent of protein and 50 equivalents of dithiothreitol per cysteine are dissolved in degassed sodium phosphate buffer at 50 mM, pH 8.5, 6M urea, for a final concentration of 10 M. The reaction progress is followed by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (CHLP), on a C4 analytical column (15 cm x 416 mm, 5 μM, 300 Â JUPITER). After 2 hours, the reaction appears quantitative, the reaction mixture is acidified to pH 2 with an aqueous solution of TFA / H ₂ O (50/50; VN), then diluted with an aqueous solution of TFA / H ₂ O ( 1/999; VN) in a final volume of 50 ml. The reaction mixture is then purified by high performance liquid chromatography (CHLP) in reverse phase, on a semi-preparative column C4 (25 cm × 10 mm, 5 μM, 300 Å JUPITER). The fraction homogenized for each derivative synthesized (Tat86 and Tat101) is characterized, by its amino acid composition, by mass spectrometry. A strategy similar to that used for Tat101 and Tat86 was used to synthesize: - 18 overlapping peptides with a length of 15 amino acids, covering the sequence of Tat101, - the Tat86 derivatives in which each of the seven cysteines of the rich region in cysteine is substituted in serine (Tat86Ser, control) or in a hydrophobic amino acid, such as a leucine (Tat86C (22-37)), a phenylalanine (Tat86C (22-37) F) or a tryptophan (Tat86C (22 -37) W), - the derivative of Tat 101 in which each of the arginines in positions 52 and 53 is substituted for glutamine (Tat101R (52.53) Q). 2) Production of the recombinant Tat protein and of the mutant derivatives The production of the recombinant Tat protein (Tat86 and Tat101) and of its mutants was carried out in E. coli. Briefly, the nucleotide sequence of the Tat protein was reconstituted from 8 overlapping synthetic nucleotide primers, representing the sequence of the entire Tat gene coding for the aforementioned protein, flanked by the Nde I and Hind III restriction sites. The primers were hybridized by their complementary regions and then the hybridization product obtained was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using the primers above, corresponding to the 5 'and 3' ends of the gene. Tat, flanked by Nde I or Hind III restriction sites. The PCR amplification fragment was then cloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pΕT3a (NOVAGΕN) and the Tat protein was expressed in E. coli from the recombinant vector thus obtained, according to the standard protocols recommended by the supplier. The recombinant Tat protein was purified by passage through a heparin column and then by reverse phase high pressure chromatography, according to standard chromatography protocols. Alternatively, the Tat gene was cloned into the plasmid pTriΕx-1 (NOVAGΕN) which allows the expression of Tat in E. coli, in insect cells or mammalian cells under the control, respectively, of the T7 promoter, of the plO promoter, and a hybrid promoter between the activator of the early cytomegalovirus promoter and the promoter of chicken β-actin. A similar strategy was used to produce Tat86 mutants in which each of the seven cysteines in the cysteine-rich region is substituted for serine (Tat86Ser, control) or a hydrophobic amino acid, such as leucine (Tat86C (22- 37)). 3) Preparation of Tat complexed with polysulphated sugars or with metal ions (Zn ²⁺ ) Heparin (molecular weight 15000; H3393 (SIGMA)) and its fragments of molecular weight 6000 (H5284, SIGMA) and 3000 (H3400, SIGMA) were mixed with Tat101 or Tat86 in PBS buffer, in a Tat / heparin molar ratio of 1/1, and the complexes were incubated at 20 ° C for a time between 1 hour and overnight. The complexes obtained from Tat101 are called Tat101 / Hep3000, Tat101 / Hep6000 and Tat101 / Hepl5000 ₃ and similarly for Tat 86. Complexes between Tat101 or Tat86 and other polysulfated sugars such as dextran sulfate (Dextran; D7037, SIGMA.) And pentosan polysulfate (PPS; SIGMA) were prepared as indicated above for the complexes between Tat and heparin. The complexes thus obtained from Tat101 are called Tat101 / Dextran and Tat101 / PPS. A similar strategy was used to prepare complexes between Tat101 or Tat86 and Zn ²⁺ ions (Tat101 / Zn; Tat86 / Zn). Complexes between Tat101, Tat86 or inactivated derivatives of Tat such as Tat101R (52,53) Q, and two different ligands of Tat as polyvalent cations, in particular divalent like Zn ²⁺ and a polysulfate sugar such as heparin were also prepared. More precisely, the two ligands are mixed with Tat, in PBS buffer (equimolar ratio Tat / heparin; ZnCl ₂ in excess of a factor of 6, relative to Tat), then the mixture is incubated for one hour at room temperature. The complexes thus obtained are called Tat101 / Zn / Hep6000 and Tat101R (52.53) Q / Zn / Hep6000.

4) Preparation of Tat oligomers Covalent Tat dimers were prepared by oxidation of the cysteine residues. More specifically, a monomeric derivative of Tat, for example the derivative Tat101C (22-31; 37) S, was dissolved in 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 8 (final concentration 10 ^" M). The solution was incubated for 48 hours at room temperature (approximately 20 ° C.), with shaking The reaction medium was then acidified to pH 2 with a solution containing TFA (TFA / H2O, 1/1, v / v). Tat dimer was finally purified by high performance liquid chromatography in reverse phase using a C4 analytical column (15cmx4.6mm, 5μM, 300 Å, JUPITER) .The dimeric nature of the Tat derivative was verified by analysis in amino acids and mass spectrometry.

Example 2: Tat is structurally flexible and particularly sensitive to proteolytic degradation. 1) Materials and Methods al Preparation of Tat Tat86 and Tat101 are produced by chemical synthesis or by recombinant DNA techniques, as described in Example 1. b) Analysis of the susceptibility of Tat101 to the proteolysis The protein Tat101 was dissolved extemporaneously in 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer pH 7.0, at the final concentration of 0.1 g / L, then incubated at 37 ° C. with 1 'enzyme (trypsin or chymotrypsin, ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS GmBH), in an enzyme / substrate ratio of 1/200 (W / W). At different incubation times (30 sec, 1 min, 2 min, 5 min, 6 min), 5 μl of 5% TFA were added to stop the enzymatic digestion, and the peptide fragments produced were identified by coupled liquid chromatography in mass spectrometry line (ESI-MS, Quattro II, MICROMASS). c) Dichroic Analysis of the Tat86 and Tat101 Proteins The measurements in circular dichroism were carried out using a dichrograph (CD6, YNON JOBIN), at ambient temperature. The 15 μM sample solutions in 5 mM potassium phosphate buffer pH 7.0 were previously filtered through 0.45 μm membranes, before transfer to quartz cells with a 2 mm optical path. Each spectrum is the result of four measurements in the far UN region (190 nm-250 nm), obtained at a resolution of 0.2 nm, with an integration time of 0.5 sec and a bandwidth of 2 nm. 2) Results The circular dichroism studies show that the proteins Tat86 and Tat101 are both devoid of secondary structure (Figure 1) and indicate that they adopt a flexible structure, devoid of β-sheet and α-helix. The poor structural organization of a protein induces significant flexibility and consequently low thermodynamic stability and a high susceptibility to proteolysis. This is the case of the Tat protein, since it is particularly sensitive to proteolytic degradation. Indeed, the analysis carried out with the Tat protein of 101 amino acids shows that it undergoes a first cut after only 30 seconds of incubation at 37 ° C with trypsin or chymotrypsin (Figure 2). The inventors have hypothesized that improving the stability of Tat should decrease its proteolytic susceptibility and increase its half-life in the organism, as well as its immunogenicity. This hypothesis has been validated by comparing the immunogenicity of unmodified Tat to that of Tat molecules beforehand. stabilized. Stabilization of Tat was undertaken either by complexation with a ligand or by incorporation of hydrophobic groups.

Example 3 Stabilization of Tat by Formation of Complexes Between Tat101 and a Tat Ligand (Heparin, Zn ⁺ ) 1) Materials and Methods a) Production of Tat / Ligand Complexes The proteins Tat86 and Tat101, free or complexed with heparin or indeed Zn ²⁺ ions are produced as described in Example 1. b) Analysis of the susceptibility of Tat101 and Tat101 / heparin to proteolytic degradation The analysis is carried out under the conditions described in Example 2, at with the exception of the incubation time with trypsin which is 15 min and the Tat protein concentration which is 0.5 g / L. d) Analysis of the antibody response induced by Tat and the Tat / ligand complexes, in animals The analysis of the antibody response induced by Tat and its derivatives was carried out in BALB / c mice and SWISS mice inbred). The different immunogens were mixed in equal volume with alumina hydroxide and then injected, intraperitoneally, at the rate of 5 μg of Tat protein per BALB / c mouse, in a final volume of 100 μl. The mice were immunized twice to

14 days apart. A blood sample was taken 14 and 28 days after the second immunization. Alternatively, SWISS mice were immunized with Tat and its derivatives, in the absence of an adjuvant, see subcutaneously, at the rate of 16 μg of Tat protein per mouse, in a final volume of 100 μl. The mice were immunized twice 14 days apart. A blood sample was taken 14 days after the second immunization. The sera were then tested for the presence of anti-

Tat by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In these experiments, Tat was previously adsorbed on ELISA plates. The ELISA plates were saturated with 0.1% bovine serum albumin. Finally, dilutions of sera were incubated on the plates overnight at 4 ° C. The presence of anti-Tat antibodies has been revealed to using a goat antibody specific for mouse antibodies coupled to peroxidase and ABTS as a substrate. c) Antigenic profile of the sera produced by immunization with Tat101 and Tat101 / HepόOOO. This profile was established using an enzyme immunoassay. 18 overlapping peptides with a length of 15 amino acids, representing the entire Tat sequence, were synthesized in solid phase, as described in Example 1. The peptides were then adsorbed on wells of ELISA plate (10 μg / lOOμl / well). The ELISA plates were saturated with 0.1% bovine serum albumin. Dilutions of the anti-Tat10 and Tat101 / heparin 6000 test sera samples were then added to the plates and the incubation was continued overnight at 4 ° C. The presence of anti-Tat antibodies was then revealed using a goat antibody specific for mouse antibodies coupled to peroxidase and ABTS as a substrate. 2) Results a) The formation of complexes between Tat and a ligand of Tat 101 makes it possible to increase the stability of Tat101 with respect to proteolysis. Three types of Tat / heparin complexes with a Tat / ligand molar ratio of 1/1 were prepared from Tat101 and heparins of molecular weight 15000, 6000 and 3000 which have a decreasing affinity for the protein. Comparative analysis of the susceptibility to proteolysis, of the free Tat protein and of the complexed Tat protein, shows that free Tat is completely degraded in 15 minutes whereas it is degraded more slowly when it is complexed (FIG. 3). . The heparin 3000 fragment of low affinity protects Tat very little, while the heparin 15000 and the heparin 6000 fragment, more affinity, better protect the protein (Figure 3). Thus, the formation of complexes between Tat and heparin or of heparin fragments makes it possible to stabilize Tat with respect to proteolytic degradation. To a lesser extent, the formation of complexes between Tat and Zn also makes it possible to stabilize Tat with respect to proteolytic degradation (Table I: see Example 6, Results). b) The formation of complexes between Tat and heparin makes it possible to increase the humoral response induced against Tat. The anti-Tat antibody response induced by immunization of BalB / c mice with either Tat101 mixed with alumina hydroxide, or Tat101 / Hepl5000 or Tat101 / Hep6000 complexes, mixed with aluminum hydroxide, was analyzed by ELISA. The results show that the humoral response is increased when Tat101 is previously complexed with heparin 15000 or 6000 (FIG. 4); the antibody titers induced by Tat101 are ten times lower than those induced by Tat1101 / Hepl5000 and Tatl01 / Hep6000. Similar experiments, carried out in SWISS mice and in the absence of an adjuvant, show that the Tat / heparin complexes (Tat101 / Hep6000 and Tat86 / Hep6000) are also capable of inducing an immune response in a non-consanguineous population, and this in the absence of adjuvant (Figure 13). In addition, insofar as the interaction with the heparin ligand could mask certain antigenic sites of Tat and unmask others, and induce a humoral response against determinants which are not those naturally presented by the free Tat protein, the antigenic specificity of the antibodies produced against Tat101 and Tat101 / Hep6000 was analyzed by ELISA. To do this, the sera of the mice immunized with Tat101 and Tat101 / Hep6000 were incubated in the presence of a series of 18 overlapping peptides with a length of 15 amino acids representing the entire Tat sequence. The results presented in FIG. 5 show that the antigenic specificity of the anti-Tat antibodies produced by immunization with Tat101 / Hep6000 is similar to that produced by immunization with free Tat101. Indeed, immunization with Tat101 predominantly induces antibodies directed against the region 1-15 (titer> 1/3000), and more weakly against the regions 71-90 and 86-101 (titers <l / 400) . Sera from immunization with Tat101 / heparin have the same antigenic profile. In addition, in both cases, the immunodominant region is localized in the N-terminal region. The complexation of Tat with heparin 6000 makes it possible to increase the intensity of the humoral response without modifying the antigenic specificity of the anti-Tat antibodies produced. EXAMPLE 4 Stabilization of Tat by Incorporation of Hydrophobic Groups 1) Materials and Methods a) Production of Tat and of its Tat derivatives and its derivatives in which the cysteine residues are blocked using hydrophobic groups of the S-tertio- type butyl (StBu), are synthesized in solid phase, as described in Example 1. b) Analysis of the susceptibility of Tat86 and Tat86C (22-37) StBu to proteolytic degradation The proteins Tat86 and Tat86C (22-37) StBu were dissolved immediately in 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer pH 7.0, at a final concentration of 0.5 g / L of Tat protein, then incubated at 37 ° C with pronase E (ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS GmBH), an enzyme / substrate ratio of 1/20 (P / P) After 15 min of incubation, 5 μl of 5% TFA were added to stop the enzymatic digestion, and the peptide fragments produced were identified by liquid chromatography coupled in line to mass spectrometry (ESI-MS, Q uattro II, MICROMASS). c) Analysis of the Antibody Response Induced by Tat86 and Tat86C (22-37) StBu, in Animals This analysis was carried out as described in Example 3 for the Tat / heparin complexes, except that the sera have were taken either 14 and 28 days (Figure 9) or 25, 35 and 47 days (Figure 8) after the last immunization. d) Analysis of the cell response induced by Tat and its derivatives The various immunogens were prepared and injected according to the same protocol as that described for the induction of the humoral response (Example 3). Ten days after the second immunization, the rats of the animals were removed and macerated. The mouse splenocytes were then incubated in the presence of dilution series of Tat86. After 3 days of stimulation at 37 ° C, tritiated thymydine was added, and 18 hours later, the cells were removed and the cell proliferation was evaluated by measuring the incorporated radioactivity, according to standard protocols. e) Analysis of the heparin binding of Tat and its hydrophobic derivatives The antigens Tat86, Tat86C (22-37) L and Tat86C (22-37) StBu were adsorbed in the wells of an ELISA plate (0J μg /well). The plates were then saturated with 0.1 M phosphate buffer pH 7, containing 0.3% bovine serum albumin. Dilution series of a heparin-albumin-biotin conjugate were then added to the wells. After an overnight incubation at 4 ° C., the amount of the heparin albumin-biotin conjugate linked to Tat 86 or to its derivatives was revealed using streptavidin coupled to peroxidase and then ABTS as substrate. 2) Results a) The blocking of Tat cysteines by StBu groups makes it possible to increase the stability of a large part of the Tat sequence. In a second approach, the Tat protein has been stabilized by incorporating hydrophobic groups, in order to create a stabilizing heart. The 7 cysteines located between the residue at position 22 and the residue at position 37 of the region rich in Tat cysteines were modified using hydrophobic groups of the S-tert-butyl type (StBu). To evaluate the effects of this type of modification on the stability of Tat, a Tat86 protein whose 7 cysteines are blocked by StBu groups (Tat86C (22-37) StBu) and another whose cysteines are free (Tat86) synthesized. Likewise, a Tat101 protein with free cysteines (Tat101) and a Tat101 protein with cysteines blocked by StBu (Tat101C (22-37) StBu) were also synthesized. The comparative analysis of the stability of these four proteins vis-à-vis the proteolytic action of pronase shows significant differences between the fragments resulting from the proteolysis of each of the four proteins (Figures 6 and 7). Thus, the fragments originating from Tat101 and Tat86 are for the most part small while those originating from Tat101C (22-37) StBu and Tat86C (22-37) StBu are predominantly large. These results indicate that the Tat proteins whose cysteines are free are proteolysed in an extensive manner, while those whose cysteines are blocked by hydrophobic groups are partially protected from the enzymatic action. The presence in the digestion product of Tat101C (22-37) StBu and Tat86C (22-37) StBu of many long fragments in the region extending from amino acid 13 to amino acid 52 and several long fragments in the C-terminal region indicates that protection from The enzymatic action is exerted in the region of insertion of the hydrophobic groups but also at a distance therefrom. b) Blocking Tat cysteines by hydrophobic groups of the StBu type makes it possible to increase the humoral response directed against Tat. First, the effect of incorporating groups

StBu on the immunogenicity of the long form of Tat (Tat101) was evaluated. The results show that Tat101 induces an antibody response which is 15 times weaker than that induced by Tat101C (22-37) StBu (FIG. 8). Comparative analysis of the immunogenicity of the short form of Tat (Tat86), Tat86C (22-37) StBu and a Tat toxoid prepared by carboxamidation (Tatcam) shows that Tat86C (22-37) StBu induces antibody response which is more than 30 times greater than that provided by Tat86 and ten times greater than that induced by the toxoid Tatcam (Figure 9). Thus, the incorporation of StBu groups makes it possible to significantly increase the immunogenicity of Tat101 and Tat86. Similar experiments, carried out in SWISS mice and in the absence of adjuvant, show that the TatStBu derivatives are also capable of inducing an immune response in a non-consanguineous population, and this in the absence of adjuvant (FIG. 13). c) the hydrophobic groups incorporated in Tat are responsible for the increase in immunogenicity The role of hydrophobic groups in increasing the immunogenicity of Tat has been demonstrated by studying the immunogenicity of a molecule Tat86 whose 7 cysteines are respectively substituted by leucines (Tat86 C (22-37) L, phenylalanines (Tat8C (22-37) F), or tryptophans (Tat86 C (22-37) W), compared to a Tat molecule whose 7 cysteines are replaced by serines (Tat86C (22-37) S), (Figure 10) d) The combination of heparin complexation and the creation of a hydrophobic zone increase immunogenicity of Tat The results presented in Examples 3 and 4 demonstrate that the immimogenicity of Tat can be significantly increased, either by creating a hydrophobic zone in the molecule, or by forming complexes. These two approaches were implemented from two distinct regions of Tat. Indeed, the formation of complex with heparin is mediated by the basic Tat region, located from residue 49 to residue 57, while the 7 cysteines are grouped in zone 22-37 of the molecule. Consequently, studies were carried out to first verify that the Tat molecules of hydrophobic character could still interact with heparin, then to determine if the newly formed compounds exhibited further enhanced immunogenic characteristics. The study of the binding of Tat86, Tat86C (22-37) StBu and Tat86C (22- 37) L to heparin using an ELISA test shows that the three molecules have the same ability to bind heparin (Figure 11). After immunization of BALB / c mice with Tat86C (22-37) free StBu or previously complexed with heparin 6000, under conditions as described in Example 3 for the Tat derivatives, the antibody response was analyzed in ELISA. Antibody titers obtained by immunization with the complex

Tat86C (22-37) StBu / Hep6000 are five times greater than those induced by immunization with Tat86C (22-37) StBu (Figure 12). These results indicate that complexing with heparin also increases the immunogenicity of the Tat derivatives and that the combination of the two modifications thus makes it possible to obtain an increase in immunogenicity greater than that obtained with each of the modifications alone. Similar experiments, carried out in SWISS mice and in the absence of an adjuvant, show that the combination of the two modifications also makes it possible to obtain an increase in immunogenicity greater than that obtained with only one of these modifications, in a population non-consanguineous, and this in the absence of adjuvant (Figure 13). e) The Tat86C derivative (22-37 StBu free or complexed with heparin induces T cells in animals. While the anti-Tat antibody response plays a crucial role in limiting the progression of the disease, the response cell directed against Tat also has an important place in the protection against viral infection. Therefore, the effect of highly immunogenic derivatives of Tat on the anti-Tat cellular response has been evaluated. illustrated in Figure 14 show that the spleno- mouse cytes immunized with Tat86 do not proliferate in vitro in the presence of Tat, which indicates that immunization with the wild form of Tat86 does not make it possible to induce specific T cells in animals (FIG. 14A). In contrast, splenocytes from immunizations with Tat86C (22-37) StBu (Figure 14B) and Tat86C (22-37) StBu / Hep6000 (Figure 14C) proliferate "in vitro" in the presence of Tat86, which indicates that cells T are well activated by immunization using these two immunogens. Example 5 Analysis of the Transactivating Properties of the Tat Derivatives

1) Materials and methods A reporter plasmid, called pLTR-G, comprising the gene of the green fluorescent protein EGFP under the transcriptional control of the HIV-1 LTR, was constructed and stably transfected in Hela cells. More specifically, the LTR sequence of the AVR-2 isolate of HIV-1 (Jones et al., Curr. Opin. Cell. Biol., 1993, 5: 461-468 and GenBank access number K02007) covering positions -137 to +58, relative to the site of initiation of transcription was synthesized according to the method described in Stemmer et al., Gene, 1995, 164: 49-53. The synthetic LTR thus obtained was digested with HindIII and S cII and cloned at the same sites of the plasmid pEGFP-1 (CLONTECH), upstream of the EGFP gene devoid of promoter, to give the plasmid pLTR-G. A Hela cell line stably transfected with the plasmid pLTR-G, and expressing EGFP in an activatable manner in the presence of Tat was selected. The Hela cell line transfected with the reporter plasmid was incubated in the presence of Tat or Tat derivatives prepared as described in Example 1 and of chloroquine (100 μM final) in a serum-free medium. After 3 hours of incubation at 37 ° C, DMEM medium containing 10% fetal calf serum was added. The cells were then incubated for 45 hours at 37 ° C and the cell fluorescence was analyzed by flow cytometry.

2) Results FIG. 15 shows that, unlike Tat101 and Tat86 which are capable of transactivating the LTR of HIV, the Tat derivatives have a reduced transactivation activity. With the exception of the derivatives Tat101C (22-37) StBu and Tat86 C (22- 37) tBu whose transactivation activity is reduced only by 60% compared to that of Tat101 or Tat86, all the other derivatives have an almost abolished transactivating power (reduction from 95% to 99% compared to Tat101 or Tat86). EXAMPLE 6 Measurement of the Resistance of Tat and Its Derivatives Against Proteolytic Degradation The proteolytic stability of Tat and its derivatives was studied by analysis of the persistence of an epitope B (KGLGISYGRK) of the core region, which is recognized by the monoclonal antibody called anti-Tatl7S, and is particularly sensitive to chymotrypsin, since it contains three hydrophobic residues (L, I and Y). The core region was selected for the following reasons: (i) it is not modified in all of the Tat derivatives studied, (ii) it is not involved in the binding with heparin-type ligands (example 3), and (iii) it is not modified in the hydrophobic Tat derivatives (Example 4). 1) Materials and methods Tat and its derivatives are dissolved in a 50 mM phosphate buffer pH

7. 2.5 μg of Tat or one of its derivatives are incubated in the presence of phosphate buffer alone or of phosphate buffer containing chymotrypsin in an enzyme / substrate ratio of 1/50 (W / W). After 2 hours at 37 ° C, the reaction is stopped by adding PMSF (5 mM final). 300 μl of phosphate buffer pH 7 are then added and serial dilutions of the reaction medium are distributed in the wells of an ELISA plate. After an overnight incubation at 4 ° C., the plates are saturated by adding 200 μl of 100 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.2, containing 0.3% bovine serum albumin and 0.003% thymerosal. After one hour of incubation at 37 ° C., the plates are washed in 0.01 M sodium phosphate buffer pH 7.2 containing 0.05% of tween 20. An ascites liquid containing the anti-Tat177 monoclonal antibody specific for the Tat core region is incubated 1/100 in the wells of the ELISA plates. After 2 hours of incubation at room temperature, the plates are washed in the same buffer as above and a polyclonal goat anti-mouse immunoglobulin antibody coupled to peroxidase is added (dilution 1/5000). After 30 minutes of incubation at room temperature, the plates are washed in the same buffer as above and the ABTS is added to the wells. After 30 minutes of incubation at room temperature, the absorbance at 414 nm is measured using an automatic reader (Multiskan MCC340, TITERTEK). The proportion of Tat having resisted the action of chymotrypsin is established as being the ratio between the dilution of Tat in the presence of chymotrypsin (Tat chymo) and the dilution of Tat in the absence of chymotrypsin (Tat in phosphate buffer: Tat tp). This ratio is measured for an optical density equal to 1 after incubation of the various antibodies and of the substrate. This ratio is measured for all of the Tat derivatives (Tat chymo derivative / Tat tp derivative). The stability of the derivative with respect to wild-type Tat is then determined by dividing the ratio obtained for each derivative of Tat by the ratio measured for wild-type Tat, all multiplied by 100 ((Tat chymo derivative / Tat tp derivative) / ( Tat wild chymo / Tat wild tp) x 100). A percentage greater than 120% corresponds to an increase in stability compared to wild Tat (value equal to 100%). 2) Results The sensitivity of the Tat derivatives to proteolytic degradation is presented in Tables I and II below: Table I: Stability of the Tat derivatives with regard to digestion with chymotrypsin (test No. 1)

Table H: Stability of the Tat derivatives with respect to digestion with chymotrypsin (test No. 2)

Tables I and II indicate that the complexation of Tat with a ligand such as a polysulfate sugar (heparin, dextran sulfate, pentosan polysulfate) or a metal ion, in particular a divalent cation like Zn ²⁺ , or else the increase in hydrophobicity of Tat increase the stability of Tat as shown by the increased resistance of the Tat derivatives according to the invention, vis-à-vis proteolytic degradation. By comparison, the control derivative, Tat86Ser which is substituted by polar amino acids is less stable than Tat86.

Example 7: Comparative analysis of the antibody response induced by Tat complexed with different ligands. 1) Materials and methods a) Production of Tat / ligand complexes The protein Tat101 and the inactivated derivative Tat101R (52.53) Q, free or complexed with heparin, dextran sulfate, pentosan polysulfate or Zn ions ²⁺ are produced as described in Example 1. b) Analysis of the antibody response induced by Tat and the Tat / ligand complexes. in animals The analysis of the antibody response induced by Tat101 and the Tat101 / Dextran and Tat101 / PPS complexes was carried out in BALB / c mice. The different immunogens were mixed in equal volume with alumina hydroxide and then injected, intraperitoneally, at the rate of 5 μg of Tat protein per BALB / c mouse, in a final volume of 100 μl. A blood sample was taken 14 and 28 days after immunization. Alternatively, BALB / c mice were immunized with Tat101 or the inactivated derivative Tat101R (52.53) Q, free or complexed with Zn and / or heparin, in the absence of adjuvant, by subcutaneous route , at a rate of 5 μg of Tat protein per mouse, in a final volume of 100 μl. The mice were immunized twice 14 days apart. A blood sample was taken 14 days after the second immunization. The sera were then tested for the presence of anti-Tat antibodies by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as described in Example 3. 2) Results The anti-Tat antibody response induced by mouse immunization

BALB / c with either Tat101 mixed with aluminum hydroxide or Tat101 / Dextran or Tat101 / PPS complexes, mixed with aluminum hydroxide, was analyzed by ELISA. The results show that the humoral response is increased when Tat101 is previously complexed with a polysulfate sugar (FIG. 16); the antibody titers induced by Tat101 are ten times lower than those induced by Tat1110 / Dextran and Tat101 / PPS. The results are comparable to those obtained with the Tat / Hep6000 and Tat / Hepl5000 complexes (Example 3 and Figure 4). The anti-Tat antibody response induced by immunization of BALB / c mice with Tat101 or the inactivated derivative Tat101R (52.53) Q, free or complexed with Zn ²⁺ and / or heparin, and in the absence of 'adjuvant, show that unlike the Tat / heparin complexes (Tat101 / Hep6000), the Tat / Zn complexes are not capable of inducing an increase in the immune response, and this in the absence of adjuvant (Figure 17). In contrast, the Tat / heparin / Zn complexes behave like the Tat / heparin complexes and are capable of inducing an increase in the immune response, and this in the absence of adjuvant. Tat101 and the inactivated derivative of Tat (Tat101R (52,53) Q) give comparable results. Example 8 Analysis of the Forms of Tat Stabilized Using Zn ²⁺ 1) Methods a) Electrophoretic Analysis of the Forms of Tat The protein Tat101 (final 58 μM), prepared as described in the example

1, was incubated in PBS buffer (pH 7.4), in the presence of ZnCl ₂ (in excess of factor 6 compared to Tat cysteines) or in the absence of ZnCl ₂ , for different times, at room temperature, without shaking, in the dark. The appearance of the oligomeric forms of Tat was analyzed by electrophoresis on a gel consisting of a non-crosslinked polymer forming dynamic pores and analysis on a bioanalyzer (Agilent 2100, AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES), using the Protein 50 Plus kit. LabChip (AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES). The chips were prepared according to the protocol provided by the manufacturer; the channels of the chip were filled with the mixture of gel and fluorescent marker used for the detection of proteins. The Tat101 samples incubated in PBS, in the presence or absence of ZnCl _2> were preincubated with maleimide (20 mM), so as to block the reactive cysteines and avoid the formation of disulfide bridges during denaturation or of sample migration in the gel. Then, the Tat samples were denatured in the presence of SDS, at 95 ° C., for 7 minutes before loading them onto the chip. The chip was then loaded onto the bioanalyzer and each sample was separated in the separation channel and detected by measuring the fluorescence (670 nm-700 nm) in 45 seconds, b) analysis of the transactivation power of the Tat Le forms experimental protocol is that described in Example 5. 2) Results a) electrophoretic analysis of the stabilized forms of Tat using Zn The electrophoretic analysis of Tat (FIG. 18) shows that Tat is an unstable molecule which evolves during time to form dimers or trimers. After 5 days of incubation (line 4), there are mainly two bands corresponding to oligomeric forms. The first is in the majority and corresponds to dimeric forms, while the second corresponds to trimeric forms. The monomeric form which can be observed on lines 1, 2 and 3 has almost disappeared. On the other hand, in the presence of ZnCl ₂ , there is only one band corresponding to the monomeric form of Tat (line 6). Zinc which can lead to the formation of homo or non-covalent heterodimers, therefore stabilizes Tat by blocking the formation of intermolecular disulfide bridges, mediated by cysteines. b) Analysis of the Transactivating Power of the Tat Forms Stabilized Using Zn ²⁺ The transactivating power of Tat in the presence or absence of ZnCl ₂ , was analyzed in order to assess whether the stabilization by zinc alters the biological activity of Tat. FIG. 19 shows that the cells transfected with the reporter plasmid emit fluorescence for concentrations of Tat or Tat previously diluted with ZnCl ₂ which are similar, which indicates that the zinc stabilizes Tat without disturbing its main biological activity. As is apparent from the foregoing, the invention is in no way limited to those of its modes of implementation, production and application which grow to be described more explicitly; on the contrary, it embraces all the variants which may come to the mind of the technician in the matter, without departing from the framework, or the scope, of the present invention.

Claims

1 °) Anti-HIV vaccine composition, characterized in that it comprises at least one stabilized Tat antigen, resistant to proteolytic degradation, which stabilized antigen being selected from the group consisting of: a) a complex between a Tat protein of HIV or a Tat fragment of at least 11 amino acids, and a non-metallic Tat ligand, b) an HIV Tat protein or a Tat fragment of at least 11 amino acids, modified by substitution with an amino acid hydrophobic and / or the modification by a hydrophobic group of at least one amino acid of the Tat sequence, excluding the substitutions R52L, R55L, R57L, R78A, G79A, E80A and K89L, and c) a complex between the Tat protein or Tat fragment modified by substitution with a hydrophobic amino acid and / or modification by a hydrophobic group, of at least one amino acid of the Tat sequence defined in b), and a non-metallic ligand of Tat . 2 °) vaccine composition according to claim 1, characterized in that said non-metallic ligand in a) or in c) is of protein, lipid, carbohydrate, nucleotide or mixed nature. 3 °) vaccine composition according to claim 2, characterized in that said non-metallic ligand in a) or in c) is a polysulfate sugar chosen from: dextran sulfate, pentosan polysulfate and polysulfated glycosaminoglycans such as heparin and heparan sulfate. 4 °) vaccine composition according to claim 3, characterized in that said heparin is a heparin of molecular weight of 15,000 Da or a heparin fragment of molecular weight of 6000 Da. 5 °) vaccine composition according to claim 2, characterized in that said non-metallic ligand in a) or c) is the Vpr protein of HIV. 6 °) vaccine composition according to claim 1, characterized in that said Tat protein or said Tat fragment in b), are modified by substitution with a hydrophobic amino acid and / or modification by a hydrophobic group of 1 to 7 cysteines, located in positions 22, 25, 27, 30, 31, 34 and / or 37. 7 °) vaccine composition according to claim 6, characterized in that at least the four cysteines in positions 25, 27, 30 and 31 are substituted by a hydrophobic amino acid and / or modified by a hydrophobic group. 8 °) vaccine composition according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterized in that said hydrophobic amino acid is selected from the group consisting of: a leucine, a tryptophan and a phenylalanine and / or said hydrophobic group is S- tert-butyl. 9 °) vaccine composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said stabilized Tat antigen derives from a Tat protein or from an inactivated Tat fragment. 10 °) vaccine composition according to claim 9, characterized in that said Tat protein or said fragment of inactivated Tat comprises the substitution of each of the cysteines in positions 22, 34 and 37 in serines or else the substitution of each of the arginines in positions 52 and 53 in glutamines. 11 °) vaccine composition according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said Tat protein or the fragment of said protein are chosen from: Tat protein of 101 amino acids, Tat protein of 86 amino acids, fragment 1 to 57 of Tat and the fragments of at least 11 amino acids included in the preceding proteins or fragment. 12 °) vaccine composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said stabilized Tat antigen derives from the Tat protein of sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 or from a fragment of at least 11 amino acids of this sequence. 13 °) Vaccine composition according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that said Tat protein or said Tat fragment in a) is also complexed with a metal ion chosen from polyvalent cations, preferably divalent, such as Zn ²⁺ or Cd ²⁺ . 14 °) vaccine composition according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that said Tat protein or said Tat fragment modified in b) or in c) are also complexed with a metal ion chosen from cations polyvalent, preferably divalent, such as Zn ⁺ or Cd ²⁺ . 15 °) Vaccine composition according to any one of the claims 1 to 14, characterized in that said Tat protein or said Tat fragment are monomers. 16 °) vaccine composition according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that said Tat protein or said Tat fragment are oligomers, preferably dimers. 17 °) vaccine composition according to claim 16, characterized in that said oligomers, preferably dimers, are formed from the covalent association of said Tat protein and / or of the fragment of said protein via an intermolecular disulfide bond involving one of the cysteines in position 22, 25, 27, 30, 31, 34 or 37. 18 °) Vaccine composition according to claim 17, characterized in that said disulfide bond involves one of the cysteines in position 22, 34 or 37. 19 °) vaccine composition according to claim 18, characterized in that the Tat dimer is formed by the association by a disulfide bridge between the cysteines in position 34, of two Tat proteins or of two Tat fragments of at least 11 amino acids comprising a serine in positions 22 and 37 and a leucine in positions 25, 27, 30 and 31. 20 °) vaccine composition according to claim 16, characterized in that said oligomers, preferably d imers, are formed from the non-covalent association of said Tat protein and / or of the fragment of said protein via metal ions, preferably polyvalent cations, in particular divalent ones such as Zn ²⁺ and Cd ²⁺ . 21 °) vaccine composition according to any one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that said Tat protein and / or the fragment of said protein, optionally modified, are in the form of a polynucleotide or of a recombinant vector encoding for said protein and / or said fragment. 22 °) vaccine composition according to any one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that it comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle, and / or an adjuvant, and / or a carrier substance. 23 °) vaccine composition according to claim 22, characterized in that it is constituted by a stabilized antigen according to any one of the res- 1 to 20 and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle and / or a carrier substance. 24 °) vaccine composition according to claim 22, characterized in that said adjuvant is aluminum hydroxide. 25 °) stabilized Tat antigen according to any one of claims 1 to 21 as a vaccine for the prevention and / or treatment of an HIV infection in humans. 26 °) Use of a stabilized Tat antigen according to any one of claims 1 to 21, for the preparation of a vaccine intended for the prevention and / or treatment of an HIV infection in humans. 27 °) Peptide complex, characterized in that it consists of: - an HIV Tat protein or a Tat fragment of at least 11 amino acids, modified by substitution with a hydrophobic amino acid and / or modification by a hydrophobic group of at least one amino acid of the Tat sequence, as defined in any one of claims 1, 6 to 12 and 15 to 19, associated with - a metal ligand of Tat, as defined in claim 14 and / or a non-metallic Tat ligand as defined in any one of claims 2 to 5. 28 °) Protein or peptide fragment, characterized in that they are chosen from an HIV Tat protein or a fragment of Tat of at least 11 amino acids, modified by substitution with a hydrophobic amino acid and / or the modification by a hydrophobic group of at least one amino acid of the Tat sequence, as defined in any one of claims 1, 6 to 12 and 15 to 19, excluding substitutions R52L, R55L, R57L, R78A, G79A, E80A and K89L. 29 °) Process for the preparation of a stabilized Tat antigen, characterized in that it comprises at least: - the preparation, by any appropriate means, of an HIV Tat protein or of a Tat fragment as defined in any one of claims 1, 9 to 18 and 21, and simultaneously or sequentially, - the formation of a complex with a non-metallic ligand of Tat as defined in any one of claims 2 to 5 and / or substitution with a hydrophobic amino acid and / or the modification by a hydrophobic group, of at least one of the amino acid residues of the Tat sequence, as defined in any one of claims 1, 6, 7 and 8. 30 ° ) Polynucleotide or mixture of polynucleotides selected from the group consisting of: a) a polynucleotide or a mixture of polynucleotides comprising the sequence coding for an HIV Tat protein or a Tat fragment of at least 11 amino acids as defined in any one of claims 1, 6 to 13 and 15 to 19, and the sequence coding for a peptide ligand for Tat, and b) a polynucleotide comprising the sequence coding for a protein Tat of HIV or a fragment of Tat of at least 11 amino acids, modified by substitution with a hydrophobic amino acid of at least one amino acid of the Tat sequence as defined in any one of claims 1, 6 to 12 and 15 to 19, excluding the substitutions R52L , R55L, R57L, R78A, G79A, E80A and K89L. 31 °) Recombinant vector comprising the polynucleotide as defined in a) or in b) of claim 30. 32 °) Mixture of recombinant vectors each comprising polynucleotides of the mixture as defined in a) of claim 30. 33 °) Eukaryotic cell modified by a polynucleotide, a recombinant vector or a mixture as defined in any one of claims 30 to 32. 34 °) Use of a metal ion as defined in claim 13 or 14, to stabilize the protein HIV Tat or a fragment of at least 11 amino acids of said protein.