Spanish
researchers say that 22/24 strong persons (92%) got immunization response to
HIV after vaccinated with MVA-B vaccine.
Prof.
Mariano Esteban, project leader of National Biological Technology in Madrid,
says: “It is similar to showing a picture of HIV so that the body can recognize
if the body meets it again”. This vaccine contains 4 genes HIV stimulating T
and B leukocyte.
B
cell creates antibody to attach viruses before they infect cells, while T cell
detects and destroys infected cells.
The
study found that almost ¾ of trial subjects have got HIV specific antibody
after vaccination 11 months. More than 1/3 of subjects have developed a type
of anti HIV T cell, called CD4+, while
over 2/3 of subjects have developed another type of cell called CD8+.
Overall,
92% subjects had immunization response. However, it does not mean that the body
will be protected from HIV. Immunization response may not enough to protect the
body.
Prof. Esteban acknowledges that this
vaccine is now only at the initial step of trial and shows promise. Next step,
the researchers will test this vaccine on people who is already infected with
HIV if it helps to reduce viral load or not. Scientists are optimistic that
“MVA-B vaccine is proved that it is effective as many other HIV vaccines are
being studied, or even more”
Some being studied HIV vaccines as HIV-v vaccine has been
developed by British scientists, can help reduce 90% of virus in HIV infected
people. However, most of the trials are small so far.