Successful human trial of new AIDS vaccine
Researchers at Scriptps Research and the non-profit IAVI vaccine research organization have successfully completed the first clinical trial of a new HIV vaccine that stimulates the body’s immune system to make powerful antibodies.
A new HIV test vaccine developed by the Scripps Research Institute and the IAVI Vaccine Research Organization shows promising immune system responses in the first human clinical trial.
This anti-HIV vaccine prepares the body’s immune system in the first instance by producing completely neutralizing antibodies or antibodies.
The ever-changing and rapidly mutating HIV virus was first identified in 1983. Since then, researchers have been trying to find successful ways to eradicate the virus, but they have not yet fully succeeded.
Approximately 38 million people worldwide are living with the HIV virus, and approximately 35 million people have died from HIV / AIDS so far. It is one of the most persistent viruses in decades. An effective vaccine is being targeted, which is very promising news.
The development of antiviral drugs means that people living with HIV can live with the virus and their ability to transmit it to others is reduced. Unfortunately, no drug has yet been developed to completely eradicate the virus.
The need for a cost-effective, prophylactic vaccine is a top priority for researchers seeking to eradicate HIV as a major public health threat.
In its first clinical trial, the new vaccine was able to stimulate the production of rare immune cells, then began the process of developing antibodies to fight the virus. This response was seen in 97% of the subjects in this clinical trial.
The researchers note that this is not only good news for continuing the search for a vaccine against HIV, but also good news for fighting fast mutating viruses.
For years, researchers have been trying to stimulate the immune system to produce powerful antibodies that can neutralize different types of the HIV virus. These antibodies are called “completely neutralizing antibodies” or “bnAbs”. These antibodies attach to the spikes of the HIV virus and inactivate them in areas that are difficult to access. However, this part of the virus does not differ much between the different strains of the virus.
“We and others have been assuming for years that the process of stimulating bnAbs must be stimulated,” said Professor William Schiff, an immunologist at Scripps Research and executive director of vaccine design at IAVI, whose lab produced the vaccine. Properly started B cells – cells that have certain characteristics that allow them to become bnAb-secreting cells.
“To get the right antibody response, we must first prepare the right B cells,” he said. The data from this test confirm the immunogenic ability of the vaccine to do this.
The researchers performed two clinical trials with a total of 48 healthy adult volunteers. Participants received either a placebo or two doses of the vaccine.
This is the first step in a multi-step test to validate the vaccine, which works to extract different types of bnAbs with the ultimate goal of stopping the HIV virus completely.
In previous experiments, the researchers tested their vaccine on 12 rabbits with positive results. The team quickly learned that the vaccine was much more effective than other available vaccines, as five rabbits were able to produce antibodies that could neutralize a number of HIV isolates. Isolation is a virus that is transmitted by an infected person or animal, not when it grows in a laboratory.
The findings were shared on February 3 at the International Conference on AIDS Research. This research will pave the way for further clinical trials that could refine and expand the method, eventually leading to the development of an effective vaccine against the HIV virus.