Finally, it seems like an AIDS vaccine may be one step closer to becoming a reality after scientists found two antibodies in the blood of a 60-year-old African-American gay man, known in the scientific literature as Donor 45, that kill 91% of HIV strains, involving all major genetic subtypes of the virus. According to the National Institutes of Health, scientists believe the two antibodies, identified as VRC01 and VRC02, can be harnessed to create more potent HIV vaccines or better treatments for the condition.
Researchers say they plan to test the new antibodies, likely blended together in a cocktail, in three broad ways. First, they could be given to people in their raw form, somewhat like a drug, to prevent transmission of the virus. However, they would likely be expensive and persist in the body only for a limited time, perhaps weeks, making that method impractical for all but specialized cases, such as to prevent mother-to-child transmission during childbirth. The antibody could also be tested in a "microbicide," a gel that women and receptive partners in gay male pairings could apply before sex to prevent infection. The antibodies might even be tried as a treatment for people who are already infected. While the antibodies are unlikely to completely suppress HIV on their own, say scientists, they might boost the efficacy of current antiretroviral drugs.As for Donor 45. Researchers screened 25 million of his cells to find 12 that produced the powerful antibodies, which probably took months or possibly even years to create. That means scientists might have to give repeated booster shots or devise other ways to speed up this process. Which means any vaccine to stop the spread of this horrific disease -- which 7,500 people are infected with every day -- is still years away.
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