Ananova:

Researchers say trials of two vaccines against the monkey version of HIV have been a success.

The team of Japanese and Thai health experts innoculated three monkeys before infecting them with SIV.

After several months, they found two of the monkeys had no detectable levels of the virus.

The third monkey had low levels of the virus but did not develop further symptoms.

The Japan Times reports the team hopes to carry out clinical tests on people infected with HIV and Aids as early as next year.

The two vaccines have been developed by the Thai public health institute and a group led by Mitsuo Honda of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases.

Researchers say they spliced HIV genes with tuberculosis vaccine BCG and a smallpox vaccine. They claim the vaccines boost the immune system and are free of risk.

They say the monkeys given no vaccine, or only one of the vaccines, had virus levels which couldn't be suppressed.

Story filed: 13:11 Wednesday 29th May 2002

CHECK FOR MORE ON:
HIV
Aids
Health
Medical breakthroughs
Science and discovery
Thailand
Japan
World

 

BREAKING NEWS ON YOUR ORANGE PHONE: If you've got an Orange phone you can now get a great new personal news service that will alert you to the news that matters to you wherever you are. Go to the Orange website to get started.