1.   That monkey viruses can contaminate live vaccines is not in doubt.

2.   And, he found, the hormone, in relatively high concentrations, can suppress the growth of both the monkey virus and HIV in the laboratory.

3.   Another surprise is that the amount of the monkey AIDS virus needed for infection was one six-thousandth of the amount required for infection through the rectum.

4.   But Alexander cautioned that the study had used unusually high doses of progesterone and of the monkey virus.

5.   He said the HIV used in a human test would lack four or more genes, while the monkey virus Ruprecht tested was missing three genes.

6.   Never before have scientists been able to prevent the transmission of the monkey virus, called SIV, for simian immunodeficiency virus.

7.   Studies with similar results involving monkey viruses related to HIV will soon be published.

8.   The monkey virus is used because it can stimulate immunity in a human being without causing illness.

9.   Otherwise, testing must be done with related microbes, such as the monkey pox virus, that naturally target animals.