In 1983, the first case of HIV was identified, and since then, it has spread to more than 85 million people globally and resulted in around 40 million deaths. While medications like PrEP can reduce the risk of contracting HIV, it requires daily intake to be effective. Researchers have been striving to develop a vaccine for lasting protection, and a recent study at Duke University may have provided a breakthrough.
In a 2019 clinical trial, an experimental vaccine from Duke University triggered a rare type of broadly neutralizing antibody in a small group of participants. The results of the study were published in the scientific journal Cell, marking a significant advancement in the HIV vaccine field, according to HIV expert Glenda Gray.
Previous research demonstrated the possibility of stimulating precursor cells needed to produce these rare antibodies, and the Duke study took a step further by generating these antibodies, albeit at low levels. The ultimate goal is to create an HIV vaccine regimen that can direct the immune system towards protection.
Creating a vaccine against HIV has proven to be a more challenging task compared to developing Covid-19 vaccines due to the rapid mutation of the virus and its ability to evade immune responses. Targeting broadly neutralizing antibodies is crucial as they can recognize and block various strains of the virus, which constantly evolves.
Although some individuals infected with HIV produce broadly neutralizing antibodies after years of living with the virus, the body’s immune response is often insufficient to combat the infection. These unique antibodies are produced by specialized B cells that undergo mutations in response to the virus, making them difficult to generate naturally.
Overall, the recent breakthrough at Duke University has raised hopes for the development of an effective HIV vaccine that can provide lasting protection against the virus’s constant mutations.
