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JOHANNESBURG – An HIV vaccine may soon be available, according to the Director of the Center for the Research Program on AIDS in SA, Professor Salim Abdool Karim.
He says that researchers are currently testing an antibody made in South Africa that could help in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
“I am much more optimistic about a vaccine and the reason why I am optimistic is because with HIV there is a lot of variability, we call it genetic diversity. This virus changes all the time and we have all the different types of HIV,” he said. said.
“When you make an antibody to HIV, it will only kill this HIV and not the others. Well, a few years ago it was discovered that you get broadly neutralizing antibodies, these very special antibodies that only a handful of people make naturally. So when you can find one of those broadly neutralizing antibodies, make it and inject it into people, now you can protect, in animal studies, you can protect animals from contracting a monkey form of HIV. “
READ: Wits researchers announce breakthrough in the fight against HIV
South Africa remains the epicenter of HIV, with up to one in five adults infected.
On Tuesday, World AIDS Day was commemorated.
