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September 16, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"AIDS Vaccine Focus Shifts to Human Trials"

Atlanta Journal-Constitution (www.accessatlanta.com/ajc)

(09/15/02) P. 3M; Wahlberg, David

One of the first to use a two-step strategy against HIV, Emory University is expecting to enter its vaccine into human trials next month.  This new two-step process is the result of scientists shifting their focus from antibodies to killer cells that hunt down and kill infected cells.  Helper cells, the main target of HIV, help to manage killer cells, which serves to complicate the science.  Scientists believe the two-step process is significantly more promising than others as it attempts to mirror what occurs in those rare people infected with HIV for decades who still manage to not develop AIDS, even without medication.  While the majority of AIDS vaccines being studied are built from HIV proteins or viruses to deliver the proteins to trigger the killer cell attack, Emory's version uses a DNA injection into the deltoid, where muscle cells convert the DNA into proteins that will alert the killer cells and also includes a booster several weeks later of a virus carrying HIV proteins to trigger a more focused reaction.  Designed by lead researcher Harriet Robinson, this "two-pronged" approach is unlike other vaccines under development, as it does not use weakened HIV or a killed virus.  Emory's vaccine is expected to begin it first human trial next month on 30 individuals at the University of Alabama, the University of Washington, and the University of California at San Francisco.

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