[thedoc (OP)]

A modified virus encoding an anti-AIDS antibody can protect animals from HIV infection.

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[CliffordK]

Very interesting application of gene therapy. 

Was the experimental group also tested with an HIV PCR?  Or other HIV antibodies?

Certainly there will need to be tests for long-term efficacy with multiple exposures to the virus.

If a vaccine can be developed, perhaps the disease can be eliminated in the next few decades.

I wonder if a similar method could be developed against Plasmodium Falciparum.  In some areas, the two vaccines could be delivered together.

[Phil1907]

AIDs vaccines of many types has been actively pursued for a good while with little to any success. Some attribute this to lack of fcus - moneys are spread unproductively - alot of money but heavily diluted among concepts and substantial bureaucracy.

[Nizzle]

Indeed very interesting.
I guess this sc-AAV 8 vector could be developed as a platform for vaccines against a wide range of diseases.

I foresee a great future for human-virus interaction, going from diseases to treatments

[CliffordK]

AIDs vaccines of many types has been actively pursued for a good while with little to any success. Some attribute this to lack of fcus - moneys are spread unproductively - alot of money but heavily diluted among concepts and substantial bureaucracy.

I disagree.
Perhaps more funding would help, but HIV/AIDS is one tough disease to fight.  And, over the last few decades there have been tremendous strides forward in the treatment.

There actually is a viable vaccine.  However, the vaccine is only 31% effective..  Very statistically significant.  Yet, not the same efficacy as what people get used to with other vaccines.  Imagine the benefit in countries where 1/4 of the population is infected with HIV, if one could reduce the new infection rate by 1/3.

Anyway, putting all of one's eggs in one basket is not wise.

Creating viruses that make our own antibodies is a very novel approach to vaccination, and might never have been tried if all the funding was held by a lab that was trying a more traditional approach to vaccine development.

If we have one chance to wipe out this killer disease.  Perhaps we should wait to distribute any vaccine until we can make a multi-vaccine cocktail, just like the multi-drug regimens that are being used to treat the disease.  And, then have required booster-shots for high risk individuals.

[thedoc (OP)]

A modified virus encoding an anti-AIDS antibody can protect animals from HIV infection.
Read the whole story on our website by clicking here
 [chapter podcast=3748 track=11.12.04/Naked_Scientists_Show_11.12.04_9401.mp3] or Listen to the Story[/chapter] or [download as MP3]