Abstract
The search for a preventive vaccine that can halt the global pandemic is the ultimate goal of HIV research. Development of a vaccine against HIV-1 has been plagued by many insurmountable challenges. Different vaccine concepts have been tested to overcome these challenges. Experimental vaccines that showed promise in preclinical studies were advanced into clinical trials. Yet, human trials proved to be a huge disappointment until the results of the RV144 trial in Thailand. This trial not only provided the first evidence of a modest efficacy, but also valuable insights on the possible immunologic correlates of vaccine protection. Currently, the HIV vaccine research landscape has been rejuvenated by two major developments. On one hand, there has been a resurgence of interest in T cell-based vaccines with the promising results obtained using a recombinant cytomegalovirus vector vaccine. On the other hand, the discovery of more than a hundred broadly neutralizing antibodies from cohorts of HIV-infected individuals has led to the development of antibody-based preventive vaccines. Innovations in the design of vaccines, vaccination strategies and clinical trial programs will be necessary to accelerate the search for a prophylactic HIV vaccine. This article reviews the current status of HIV vaccine research and provides a roadmap to future efforts in vaccine development.
Highlights
More than thirty years have elapsed since Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was first identified as the cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) [1]
AIDS continues to be a global public health challenge and it is estimated that more than 70 million people have been infected with HIV and more than half of these individuals including children have died from AIDS
Epidemiological studies indicate that new HIV infections are currently either on a decline or have stabilized in many nations of the world including sub-Saharan Africa which is at the epicentre of this pandemic and India which is home to the third-largest population of people living with HIV [2]
Summary
More than thirty years have elapsed since Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was first identified as the cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) [1]. Epidemiological studies indicate that new HIV infections are currently either on a decline or have stabilized in many nations of the world including sub-Saharan Africa which is at the epicentre of this pandemic and India which is home to the third-largest population of people living with HIV [2]. This decline can be attributed to a significant increase in easier access to AIDS therapy at the global level along with effective prevention efforts among key target groups [3,4,5,6]. The development of a safe, effective and affordable vaccine continues to be a priority and will be vital in the long term to control the transmission of HIV and its eradication
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