The new issue of the journal Nature contains three articles
offering summaries of the hurdles facing the HIV vaccine field, and
recommendations for overcoming them. In what is perhaps not a surfeit of
generosity, the opinion piece by Wayne Koff is being offered free of charge for
one week.
Opinion
Nature 464, 161-162 (11 March 2010) | doi:10.1038/464161a;
Published online 10 March 2010
Accelerating HIV vaccine development
Wayne C. Koff
Abstract
Translational-research programmes supported by flexible,
long-term, large-scale grants are needed to turn advances in basic science into
successful vaccines to halt the AIDS epidemic, says Wayne C. Koff.
Perspectives
Nature 464, 224-231 (11 March 2010) |
doi:10.1038/nature08898
Immunology and the elusive AIDS vaccine
Herbert W. Virgin1 & Bruce D. Walker2
Developing a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine is
critical to end the global acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic,
but many question whether this goal is achievable. Natural immunity is not
protective, and despite immunogenicity of HIV vaccine candidates, human trials
have exclusively yielded disappointing results. Nevertheless, there is an
indication that success may be possible, but this will be dependent on
understanding the antiviral immune response in unprecedented depth to identify
and engineer the types of immunity required. Here we outline fundamental
immunological questions that need to be answered to develop a protective HIV
vaccine, and the immediate need to harness a much broader scientific community
to achieve this goal.
1. Washington University School of Medicine and Midwest
Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Disease
Research, Campus Box 8118, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Saint Louis, Missouri
63110, USA 2. Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Howard Hughes Medical
Institute, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA
Review
Nature 464, 217-223 (11 March 2010) |
doi:10.1038/nature08757
Targeting early infection to prevent HIV-1 mucosal
transmission
Ashley T. Haase1
Measures to prevent sexual mucosal transmission of human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 are urgently needed to curb the growth of the
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) pandemic and ultimately bring it to
an end. Studies in animal models and acute HIV-1 infection reviewed here reveal
potential viral vulnerabilities at the mucosal portal of entry in the earliest
stages of infection that might be most effectively targeted by vaccines and
microbicides, thereby preventing acquisition and averting systemic infection,
CD4 T-cell depletion and pathologies that otherwise rapidly ensue.
1. Department of Microbiology, University of Minnesota,
Minnesota 55455, USA
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