Researchers from the Scripps Institute reported that the HIV vaccine prompted the production of antibodies in the vast majority of participants. The findings appeared in the journal Science.
In this trial, 48 volunteers without HIV were involved. The vaccine contained a fragment of the gp120 protein, a component known to assist the virus in entering cells. Previously, this vaccine candidate had been tested in animal models. Thirty-six participants received two low-dose injections or two high-dose injections, spaced two months apart. The remaining twelve volunteers served as the control group and were given saline to help account for placebo effects.
Throughout the study, all volunteers provided regular blood samples over a 16-week period. By the end, 97% of those who received the vaccine had HIV-specific antibodies. Antibody levels were similar regardless of whether the injected dose was low or high. Among the saline group, two of the twelve participants showed HIV antibodies at the study’s conclusion. The exact reason remains uncertain; one possibility is a form of innate immune response developed after exposure to the virus.
Across the entire participant pool, 98% experienced mild side effects, including fatigue, headaches, and soreness at the injection site.
The researchers stressed that the study did not prove protection against HIV infection. They noted that higher antibody levels or additional doses could be needed to prevent infection. Nevertheless, the approach holds promise for vaccines against other rapidly mutating viruses, such as influenza and dengue fever, offering a framework for future vaccine design and testing. (Citation: Science, Scripps Institute study.)