Breakthrough in HIV vaccine research

Researchers from the Italian Institute of Advanced Medicine (ISS) said an HIV / AIDS vaccine they are currently in testing phase seems to have been effective and able to stabilize the immune system. come back.

HIV / AIDS virus . (Internet photo)

This initial successful result has just been published in the American PloS One Scientific Journal. The trial is currently in its second phase and will be completed with 160 more patients.

Barabara Ensoli, a leading ISS scientist and researched the vaccine for 10 years, stressed that 48 weeks after the vaccine was given to volunteer patients, " their indicators are still in progress." improve and it seems we have found a way to stop the destruction of the immune system . "

Ensoli's second trial period began in late 2008 for 128 HIV-infected patients aged 18-25, both male and female, in 10 centers in Italy.

In 2006, Ensoli ended its first phase of research and announced that her AIDS vaccine had passed initial trials with great success. All Italian voluntary patients have shown that " 100% have feedback on this vaccine by producing specific antibodies ."

Ensoli's vaccine is considered groundbreaking because it is implemented in a new way to fight HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Traditional vaccines often seek to promote the immune system to enhance the body's ability to resist this disease, but are relatively unsuccessful in fighting HIV, a mutable and well-known virus. Self-recovery ability.

In contrast, Ensoli's vaccine seeks to stop infection, prevent duplication of infected cells and may be effective against all HIV variants.

The results of this vaccine for laboratory animals have shown that this could be an important step towards AIDS prevention.

Ensoli's vaccine, described by former Italian Minister of Health Umberto Veronesi as a smart vaccine, has been given a green light for human testing since 2003.

However, Ensoli's method also met many criticisms. In 2007, the American Journal of Science reported that Ensoli had filed a lawsuit against the famous immune researcher Ferdinando Auiti " about slander and sought to destroy her reputation ."

The magazine writes that Aiduti has repeatedly cited " serious errors " in the first test phase of Ensoli's vaccine.

Aiduti expressed his surprise at being sued and insisted that he had no intention of criticism. He also announced that he would not change his opinion on Ensoli's experimental vaccine.