New Hope for HIV Vaccine Development

The failure of a vaccine that boosts T-cell responses to prevent HIV acquisition in the Step Study (JW AIDS Clin Care Dec 8 2008) has led researchers to focus on new approaches. A vaccine that elicits both antibody and cellular defenses may offer the best hope for preventing HIV infection. However, the few antibodies known to neutralize a broad array of HIV strains have limited activity against non–clade B viruses (which predominate in Africa) and are difficult to elicit by vaccination. Now, using a novel technique, investigators have isolated antibodies with exceptional neutralization potency.

Serum samples from about 1800 HIV-infected patients from around the world have been screened for their ability to neutralize HIV. Monoclonal antibodi…