HIV-1 env Protein gp120 (278-292) (strains BH10, BH8, HXB2, HXB3, PV22), derived from the V3 loop of HIV-1 IIIB gp120 efficiently blocked HIV-1 IIIB infection of several T-cell lines and of normal human T cells. RIQRGPGRAFVTIGK also blocked syncytium formation in human cells. Moreover, HIV-1 env Protein gp120 (278-292) (strains BH10, BH8, HXB2, HXB3, PV22) was capable of inducing HIV-1 specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses that could effectively kill virus-infected cells and could thus find several therapeutic applications.