Antigen could speed HIV vaccine creation

Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center say their new chemically-activated antigen that can block infection of human cells by genetically diverse HIV strains could expedite development of an HIV vaccine. The HIV virus leads to the development of AIDS.

The scientists, led by Professor Sudhir Paul, said the new antigen differs from previously-tested vaccines by virtue of its chemically-activated property that enables close sharing of electrons and produces strong covalent bonding.

The researchers said they used a mouse model to generate the antibodies.

"The complexity of HIV has for long thwarted development of an effective HIV vaccine," said Paul. "Our findings open a new path toward an effective preventative and therapeutic vaccine. The new antigen is a prototype vaccine.

This prototype successfully eliminates nature's restrictions on the production of broadly-neutralizing antibodies to HIV by the immune system."
The study is to be reported in the November edition of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.