World AIDS Vaccine Day

With almost 7,500 new infections a day and 2.1 million AIDS deaths in 2007 alone, the toll from HIV continues to mount, with no end to the pandemic in sight. Research suggests that even a partially-effective, first-generation vaccine that reaches a fraction of those who need it, could cut the number of new HIV infections dramatically, savings millions of lives.

Although this crucial tool of prevention has thus far been elusive, important progress is being made on the road to vaccine development. The UK is playing an important part in this long-term effort.

In the run up to World AIDS Vaccine Day, 18 May, researchers from Southern Africa converged in London at the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative’s (IAVI) Human Immunology Laboratory.

At the end of April, 12 laboratory managers from IAVI field sites in Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia received training on how to conduct a more advanced laboratory technique to map epitopes – pieces of HIV that are recognised by the immune system. Part of a broader project which aims to reveal important information about immune responses in early HIV infection, this new technique could be critical in informing researchers on how to design better vaccine candidates.

The current technique used to measure immune responses only provides limited data on how people’s immune system responds to HIV infection. The new method will provide more detail on what parts of HIV are targeted by the immune system, and how that may correlate with the effectiveness of that response in controlling HIV. If proven correct, it would provide a critical clue for researchers in deciding which parts of HIV to select for inclusion in an effective AIDS vaccine.

Vaccines are one of the most effective public health interventions ever known. History has shown that a vaccine is the only way to eliminate a major viral epidemic. It has also shown that vaccines can take decades to develop – 47 years for polio, 92 years for meningitis. HIV was discovered 25 years ago, but there has only been a concerted AIDS vaccine effort for the last 10 years.

An AIDS vaccine is only one piece of a comprehensive global response to HIV, which must encompass education, prevention, treatment, care and support. It must also include strategies to further increase access to life-saving treatment for all who need it. With the same urgency, there must be more investment to develop better tools for the future: drugs for treatment, and microbicides and other methods for prevention, in particular vaccines that can prevent or control HIV infection.

World AIDS Vaccine Day provides each of us with an opportunity to intensify support for the development of an AIDS vaccine and continue our commitment to ending the HIV and AIDS pandemic. Recently the UK Government increased its support to vaccine and microbicide research and it is hoped that this example will be followed by other international donors.

Worldwide people are marking the day by promoting the urgent need for an AIDS vaccine and by acknowledging and thanking the thousands of volunteers, community members, health professionals, supporters and scientists who are working tirelessly together to find a safe and effective AIDS vaccine – the best hope for eliminating this devastating disease once and for all.

> For further information on AIDS vaccines please visit the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative website at http://www.iavi.org and the National AIDS Trust website at http://www.nat.org.uk.

> Find out about World AIDS Vaccine Day events at the link below.