Friday, July 9, 2010

HIV Vaccine Discovery: Antibodies discovered that block HIV strains


source: GoPride.com

Scientists today have reported a new discovery that provides a promising new direction for developing an effective AIDS vaccine.

According to government researchers, led by the National Institutes of Health, newly found and naturally occurring antibodies can neutralize more than 90 percent of known strains of the AIDS virus in laboratory testing.

"The discovery of these exceptionally broadly neutralizing antibodies to HIV and the structural analysis that explains how they work are exciting advances that will accelerate our efforts to find a preventive HIV vaccine for global use," said Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

The antibodies, known as VRCO1 and VRCO2, prevent more HIV strains than any other known antibodies from infecting human cells.

"This is important, encouraging news for the HIV vaccine field," said Jim Picket, Director of Advocacy for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. "Hopefully this new finding brings us another step closer to a safe, effective, acceptable and accessible HIV vaccine."

Though today's discovery is a potential breakthrough for advancing HIV research and could eventually lead to a vaccine, many HIV researchers and advocates remain cautiously optimistic.

"It's impossible to tell how long we could be from a vaccine, but it's important that research continue on advances that could one day protect people from the virus," Better Existence with HIV (BEHIV) Executive Director Eric Nelson told ChicagoPride.com. "Until then, it's absolutely necessary that people know their status and take steps to protect themselves and their partners. Too many people believe
that there is no longer urgency around this issue."

Pickett added, "We need more prevention options beyond male and female condoms. In fact, our relative lack of options for the prevention of sexual transmission of HIV significantly hampers our efforts to halt this epidemic. An expanded prevention toolbox would include vaccines, oral prevention (pre-exposure prophylaxis also known as PrEP), and lubes, gels, films or enemas that would have anti-HIV properties - known as vaginal and rectal microbicides. All of these things are being developed. To date none have been proven safe and effective."

The findings, reported by the Wall Street Journal, are published today in the online issue of Science.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

select key words

2007 National HIV Prevention Conference 2009 National LGBTI Health Summit 2011 LGBTI Health Summit 2012 Gay Men's Health Summit 2012 International AIDS Conference abstinence only ACT Up activism advocacy Africa african-american aging issues AIDS AIDS Foundation of Chicago anal cancer anal carcinoma anal health anal sex andrew's anus athlete ball scene bareback porn barebacking bathhouses bears big bold and beautiful Bisexual Bisexual Health Summit bisexuality black gay men black msm blood ban blood donor body image bottom Brian Mustanski BUTT Center on Halsted Charles Stephens Chicago Chicago Black Gay Men's Caucus Chicago Task Force on LGBT Substance Use and Abuse Chris Bartlett chubby chaser circumcision civil rights civil union Coaching with Jake communication community organizing condoms Congress crystal meth dating dating and mating with alan irgang David Halperin David Munar depression disclosure discrimination domestic violence don't ask don't tell douche downlow Dr. James Holsinger Dr. Jesus Ramirez-Valles Dr. Rafael Diaz Dr. Ron Stall drag queen Ed Negron emotional health ENDA Eric Rofes exercise Feast of Fun Feel the love... female condom fitness Friday is for Faeries FTM gay culture gay identity gay latino gay male sex gay marriage gay men gay men of color gay men's health Gay Men's Health Summit 2010 gay pride gay rights gay rugby gay sex gay youth gender harm reduction hate crime HCV health care health care reform health insurance hepatitis C HIV HIV care HIV drugs HIV negative HIV positive HIV prevention HIV stigma HIV strategic plan HIV testing hiv vaccine HIV/AIDS homophobia homosexuality hottie hotties how are you healthy? Howard Brown Health Center HPV human rights humor hunk Illinois IML immigration International AIDS Conference international mr. leather internet intimacy IRMA Jim Pickett leather community leathersex Leon Liberman LGBT LGBT adoption LGBT culture LGBT health LGBT rights LGBT seniors LGBT youth LGBTI community LGBTI culture LGBTI health LGBTI rights LGBTI spirituality LGV LifeLube LifeLube forum LifeLube poll LifeLube subscription lifelube survey Lorenzo Herrera y Lozano love lube lubricant Lymphogranuloma Venereum masturbation mental health microbicides middle Monday Morning Perk-Up MRSA MSM music National AIDS Strategy National Gay Men's Health Summit negotiated safety nutrition One Fey's Tale oral sex Peter Pointers physical health Pistol Pete pleasure PnP podcast policy politics poppers porn post-exposure prophylaxis PrEP President Barack Obama Presidential Campaign prevention Project CRYSP prostate prostate cancer public health public sex venues queer identity racism Radical Faerie recovery rectal microbicides relationships religion research safe sex semen Senator Barack Obama sero-adaptation sero-sorting seroguessing sex sexual abuse sexual addiction sexual health sexual orientation Sister Glo Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence smoking social marketing spirituality STD stigma stonewall riots substance abuse treatment substance use suicide super-bug superinfection Susan Kingston Swiss declaration syphilis Ted Kerr Test Positive Aware Network testicle self-examination testicular cancer testing The "Work-In" The 2009 Gay Men's Health Agenda Tony Valenzuela top Trans and Intersex Association trans group blog Trans Gynecology Access Program transgender transgender day of remembrance transgendered transmen transphobia transsexual Trevor Hoppe universal health care unsafe sex vaccines video violence viral load Who's That Queer Woof Wednesday writers yoga You Tube youtube