Cure for HIV: New vaccine that prevents HIV from infecting cells in works

Researchers in Kenya have finally managed to develop a vaccine that can stop HIV infected cells. The human trials for testing the vaccine are about to be launched.

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Researchers involved with the project have said that they will be recruiting patients to test the vaccine on in the coming three weeks.

How the vaccine works?

The vaccine uses a block approach in preventing the infection of cells by HIV. It essentially works preventing the virus from attaching itself to human cells. It is very well known that HIV spreads through bodily fluids. It attacks the immune system of the body by attaching itself to CD4 cells, also known as T cells.

The clinical trial has been named IAVI W001 trial. 664gp140. W001’ and it will test the vaccine named BG505 SOSIP. The vaccine molecule looks exactly like the human immunodeficiency virus and it will be checked on volunteers for its efficacy.

Phase one of trials starting

“This is phase one of the first human trial for this vaccine and over the next one-and-a-half years, the trial will seek to answer questions on how safe the vaccine is and how well it can induce the human body to produce antibodies that can neutralize HIV,” said Prof Omu Anzala, who is the director of Kenya AIDS Vaccine Initiative, where the trial is being conducted.

Dr. Elise Landais is a senior scientist in New York and she is the one who developed the molecule being used in the HIV vaccine. She reveals that the vaccine is a new generation of immunogens which can generate an immune response in the human body producing neutralizing antibodies that can attack the HIV virus.

The vaccine will produce antibodies that will attack the envelope protein of HIV. This is possible by designing the vaccine in such a way that it looks like the envelope of the virus and thus can induce the body to develop these antibodies.

“Previously, we have used products that elicit T-cells, but this particular product is eliciting humoral immunity or B-cells that will give broad and potent neutralizing antibodies,” said Professor Anzala.

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