2023-04-20 12:00:00
HIV continues to represent a major challenge for researchers and public health worldwide. According to the WHO, 38.4 million people are now living with HIV, including 1.5 million new infections in 2021 alone.
Although antiviral treatments have considerably improved the quality of life and the survival time of patients and several cures have been observed, the absence of an effective vaccine against HIV means that millions of people remain at risk of the disease. In this context, new research published in the journal Nature Communications is a beacon of hope for all those working to end the HIV epidemic. Creating an effective HIV vaccine is a top priority for researchers and healthcare professionals.
Trick virus defenses
The new vaccine candidate uses protein nanoparticles that copy HIV’s ENV surface protein, the one that blocks antibodies from attacking the virus. Through the use of sugar molecules that have the effect of shortening glycans, these molecules made by human cells trick the virus’s defenses and make it more accessible to antibodies. In laboratory tests on mice, seven out of eight treated animals generated strong antibodies compared to only one out of eight untreated animals.
Clinical trials from 2024
Despite the complexity of HIV vaccine research, the scientists involved in this study are optimistic about the prospects of their vaccine candidate. Clinical trials in healthy volunteers could begin as early as 2024 to test the safety and efficacy of this vaccine.
According to the researchers who carried out this work, continued investment in vaccine research should be encouraged to ensure that new discoveries occur regularly, while ensuring that antiviral treatment and patient support continue to receive the investment needed for their health. provide a better quality of life.
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