A vaccine is being developed before several strains of HIV

2002/08/20 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Osasuna

AIDS vaccination attempts have been sterile so far, especially since the HIV virus is capable of producing many variants. Therefore, it is very difficult to get a single vaccine that encourages antibodies against all variants. However, according to a paper published in the journal Proceedings in the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), it seems that the vaccine dream can be done sooner than expected. The vaccine is being carried out at the Institute of Human Virology (IHV) of the USA. is in the early stages of testing, but seems to be able to protect many variants of the virus that produces AIDS. In fact, it causes antibodies against all strains of VII-1.

It is known that in the HIV cover there is a protein called gp 120, whose versatility is due to its ability to modify its appearance. That's why there are so many strains, and that's why it's also so difficult to get a single vaccine that generates antibodies against everyone.

However, IHV researchers Timothy Fouts and Anthony Devico found that all 120 GP molecules had a common characteristic, allowing them to be associated with cells that contaminate HIV. They are not linked anywhere, but to the CD4 molecule. In addition, once the GP 120 and CD4 molecules are joined, chemical and structural changes occur. These changes make the GP 120-CD4 complex the same structure for all HIV strains.

Aware of this, researchers have developed a GP 120-CD4 artificial complex, which has shown that it is capable of producing antibodies against many strains of HIV. The results have been very satisfactory in both small laboratory animals and monkeys, and although the aim of the vaccine is to prevent the disease, it can also be used in therapy. It takes two years to test it in humans.

The vaccine will be presented at the 2002 International Conference of the Institute of Human Virology, to be held from 9 to 13 September, and experts are hopeful. It seems that an important step has been taken in obtaining the AIDS vaccine. Reach the goal.