Breakthrough May Point To AIDS Vaccine

(CBS)  Researchers have reported a breakthrough that just might lead them farther down the path to a vaccine for the AIDS virus, according to the Los Angeles Times.

A team based at the Scripps Research Institute discovered a pair of antibodies that can block many strains of the HIV virus from multiplying and producing infections. The antibodies work on a part of the virus that researchers had previously ignored - one that is relatively stable and does not mutate as extensively as others, a characteristic that has frustrated previous attempts at producing a vaccine.

The findings were reported Friday in the journal Science.

Researchers isolated the two antibodies after taking blood samples from 1,800 HIV patients who had demonstrated resistance to serious infections. Those antibodies - called PG9 and PG16 - bind themselves to parts of two proteins on the virus's surface that help it invade cells.

The antibodies neutralized activity in around 75 percent of the HIV virus's 162 strains and could be used to treat those who have developed serious infections.

But the broader goal would be use them as the foundation of a vaccine.

There are currently at least 33 million people infected with HIV around the world, according to the World Health Organization.

[ashaindra]

'We would rather hear about it about two weeks before it's available
to the public, thank you. We see dozens of stories about "breakthroughs"
for every terrible disease know to man. We are tired of hearing how
they're "just a few years away", esp. when a family member or loved one,
may be suffering with that condition.'

I agree with that statement for more reasons than one. Many uninformed people are heralding this as THE AIDS vaccine when in truth it is merely a step in the right direction. 30% is not 80% and while this news is great, it also creates a false sense of delusion for sufferers and their families.

this video highlights some of how the media has chosen to hype up the vaccine--http://www.newsy.com/videos/positive_step_toward_cure_for_hiv_aids

[ksmit2]

We would rather hear about it about two weeks before it's available
to the public, thank you. We see dozens of stories about "breakthroughs"
for every terrible disease know to man. We are tired of hearing how
they're "just a few years away", esp. when a family member or loved one,
may be suffering with that condition.
When your pimply faced kid is starting his freshman year in college,
do you announce; "in five to six years, a new electrical engineer will
be supplementing the workforce", that would be just about as stupid.

[apndrgn]

aids came from chimps. chimps will bite your face off. be nice to chimps.

[Sloughfoot]

May and might are not news. Vaccine has been developed-now that is news. Might and May have seldom lived up to "Has and Have"