The latest forecast Controlled infection By Andy Coghlan A LIVE HIV vaccine that can't infect the people it's supposed to protect may be possible after all. A team based in California has created a hybrid of HIV and another virus that can enter cells, but can't replicate once it's there.
Animal tests are due to start any time now.
The treatment relies on priming den-dritic cells, which act as the gatekeepers of the immune system by spotting invading organisms and abnormal cells such as those from tumours and engulfing them. The patient would then be injected with the treated cells to encourage their immune system to destroy HIV-infected cells. Using real HIV, even in a severely weakened form, would be far too risky. So Wong-Staal and colleagues have removed the genes HIV needs to replicate itself, and added genetic material from the other virus. Other vaccine researchers think the approach has potential.