HIV vaccine on horizon

A vaccine that prevents HIV could be on the horizon after scientists developed an injection that protected monkeys against repeated exposures to the nonhuman version of the virus.

The injection contains HIV proteins to prime the body against a virus attack as well as a protein called GM- CSF, which triggers the body's immune response. This causes the body to release antibodies that block the virus from entering the cells.

The study from Emory University in Atlanta, is one of the first to uncover a vaccine that actively stops the virus from becoming acquired. Most have merely been able to control levels of the virus post- infection, with previous studies that have made similar claims later dismissed as inaccurate or too small- scale.

Monkeys were given two inoculations followed by two booster jabs each two months apart. Six months later they were exposed repeatedly to the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) over 12 weeks.

The scientists found the jab was 87 per cent effective per exposure. Overall the vaccine gave the animals 70 per cent protection from the virus.

' Repeated challenges in animals are used to mimic sexual transmission,' said Dr Harriet Robinson, from Geovax Labs that co- authored the study.

' The hope is that the results in the nonhuman primate models will translate into vaccine- induced prevention in humans.'

Results of the study, presented at the Conference on Retroviruses in Seattle, offer a glimmer of hope to Aids activists who've battled for a cure since HIV was first identified 30 years ago.

While the once- deadly virus can now be effectively managed using powerful drugs, scientists have so far been unable to come up with a cure or vaccine to prevent transmission in the first place.