New Hopes for an AIDS Vaccine

First of December. World AIDS Day : a time to stop in medical advances to combat the disease. 35 million people are suffering AIDS in the world, among them more than 25 million are in Africa. Therapies slow down the progression of this disease, but are expensive and long time toxicity .

Px Therapeutics scientists searching a vaccine against AIDS. The 41 Euroneut program involving 17 European partners investigates how to block entry of the virus into the body.

The vaccine is based on the gp41 protein which is within the virus . 

Nicolas Mouz is the director of Px Therapeutics, in Grenoble , France: " The GP41 protein was chosen because it is a protein that is located on the surface of the virus. Is a protein that the immune system can sense and also plays a important role in the mechanism of virus entry into the cell. "  The AIDS virus is constantly changing to fool our immune system. But the GP41 protein does not change, what could be the Achilles heel of the virus. If the body produces neutralizing antibodies, the vaccine could be effective .

In the UK, the Guilford Center conducts tests on volunteer patients . Dr. David Lewis , medical immunologist , is responsible for the investigation of this vaccine. The Doctor Lewis says: "If we put the vaccine in the nose a good response in the genital tract is stimulated. So the concept is innovative start administering the vaccine in the nose with 3 doses . This prepares the body for a good response in the genital tract in order to block infection with antibodies to keep it out . "

The human immunodeficiency virus is so complex that you have to combine all the preventive measures from access to antiretrovirals to achieve a safe and effective vaccine.

Informative Video: New Hopes for an AIDS Vaccine