American scientists have recently announced promising results from an HIV vaccine trial, opening up new prospects for preventing this dangerous virus. The study indicates that the new vaccine can activate neutralizing antibodies against HIV within just a few weeks.
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the immune system, making the body more susceptible to infections. Although there are currently effective medications to control HIV, this virus remains a leading cause of death in areas lacking treatment facilities. Therefore, an effective vaccine could save millions of lives worldwide.
Dr. Barton Haynes from the Duke Vaccine Institute, the lead author of the study, stated: “This is an important step as it shows the potential to generate antibodies capable of neutralizing the most challenging strains of HIV.” However, he also emphasized that: “The next steps involve producing more potent neutralizing antibodies targeting different sites on HIV to prevent the virus from escaping. We have not achieved that yet, but the path ahead is clearer.”
The experimental vaccine produced only a small amount of antibodies, but these were effective against multiple HIV strains. These antibodies target a region on the outer shell of HIV known as the membrane-proximal external region (MPER), helping to prevent the virus from entering cells.
The study was conducted on 20 healthy individuals who tested negative for HIV. Fifteen participants received two doses, while five received three doses. Results showed that just after two vaccinations, participants exhibited a strong immune activation. The research team initially planned to test four doses, but the trial was halted after one participant experienced a non-life-threatening allergic reaction. Scientists believe this allergic response may have been triggered by an additive.
Dr. Wilton Williams, also from Duke University and co-lead author of the study, stated: “To achieve broadly neutralizing antibodies, a series of events must occur, often taking years after infection.” He shared: “The challenge is always to recreate the necessary events in a shorter timeframe using a vaccine. It is exciting to see that, with this vaccine molecule, we can actually generate neutralizing antibodies that appear within weeks.”
Nearly 40 million adults worldwide are currently living with HIV. To develop the most potent vaccine, the research team noted that it is essential to target multiple regions of the virus’s outer shell and possibly attack at least three different parts of the virus. Dr. Haynes remarked: “Ultimately, we will need to target all vulnerable sites on the virus’s shell so that it cannot escape. But this study demonstrates that broadly neutralizing antibodies can indeed be generated in humans through vaccination.”
