Premium
Human immunodeficiency virus antibodies and the vaccine problem
Author(s) -
Chiodi F.,
Weiss R. A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.625
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1365-2796
pISSN - 0954-6820
DOI - 10.1111/joim.12225
Subject(s) - medicine , immunogen , immunology , virology , hiv vaccine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , aids vaccines , clinical trial , antibody , vaccine trial , drug development , drug , monoclonal antibody , pharmacology
Despite the great advances made in controlling human immunodeficiency virus type 1 ( HIV ‐1) infection with antiretroviral drug treatment, a safe and efficacious HIV vaccine has yet to be developed. Here, we discuss why clinical trials and vaccine development for HIV have so far been disappointing, with an emphasis on the lack of protective antibodies. We review approaches for developing appropriate HIV immunogens and the stimulation of long‐lasting B‐cell responses with antibody maturation. We conclude that candidate reagents in the pipeline for HIV vaccine development are unlikely to be particularly effective. Although the major funders of HIV vaccine research and development are placing increasing emphasis on clinical product development, a genuine breakthrough in preventing HIV infection through vaccines is more likely to come from novel immunogen research.