New HIV vaccine strategy could be key to thwarting virus

Drugs that help slow down and control the infection caused by the human immuodeficiency virus (HIV) are an important therapeutic modality. However, preventing the spread of this deadly disease through the development of prophylactic vaccines is essential for disease elimination. Yet, attempts thus far at creating an effective HIV vaccine have been met with limited success. Now, new research, led by investigators at the University of Copenhagen, paves the way for vaccines that, as opposed to conventional methods, boosts the parts of the immune system attacking the viral genes, which are the least active during the infection. Findings from the new study were published recently in EbioMedicine in an article entitled “Mucosal Vaccination with Heterologous Viral Vectored Vaccine Targeting Subdominant SIV Accessory Antigens Strongly Inhibits Early Viral Replication.” Traditional vaccines typically cause a strong stimulation of the parts of the immune system, that are most responsive to the specific virus. But the...