STOP HIV

Tanzania has reported progress on efforts aimed developing at an effective HIV vaccine after two years of extensive research and trials at the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences. The study, whose preliminary trials have cost $3.8 million, is known as the “HIV Vaccine Safety and Immunogenicity” and has been carried out since 2007. So far, the vaccine has proven positive in terms of safety and ability to stimulate the immune system. The university intends to present the results in Arusha this week and later in Paris, France, at the 5th Aids Vaccine 2009 Conference. The vice-chancellor, Prof Kisali Pallangyo who led the team of researchers, said that all vaccine trials were completed in mid-July, and were positive by 100 per cent. The 60 volunteers, all from the police force — 45 men and 15 women — were immunised with DNA/placebo vaccination and later MVA/placebo boost, according to the researchers. By being positive, the scientists say, the candidate vaccines stimulated the immune system of those vaccinated and almost all who were given the vaccine responded to it. But the team said there was still a long way to go before a usable vaccine is developed. The big challenge now is to determine in the laboratory if the immune responses are able to kill or limit multiplication of live HIV,” said Prof Pallangyo.