This vaccine, named WIN332, allows the immune system to start fighting the virus immediately after the first injection, significantly reducing the number of required shots — previously, seven to ten were needed for a noticeable effect. This achievement was made possible by a new approach to the vaccine's structure.
Researchers focused their efforts on studying the viral envelope and the antibodies produced in people who successfully cope with the infection. They found that not all parts of the viral envelope are equally critical for forming immune protection. Based on this, they developed a new drug by excluding certain fragments from the structure of the viral envelope, which allowed for the creation of a more effective mechanism for activating the immune system.
During the trials, the vaccine was administered to healthy rhesus macaques, and just three weeks after the first injection, the animals began to produce antibodies capable of neutralizing different strains of HIV. “Despite previous assumptions, we managed to achieve a significant neutralization response after the first immunization, which had not been observed before,” noted Amelia Escolano, one of the authors of the study.
After the vaccine was re-administered, an even greater increase in the number of protective antibodies was observed. Scientists hope that this discovery will serve as the basis for creating a convenient and effective vaccine for humans, which could significantly simplify the vaccination process and make it accessible for doctors and patients in the fight against this serious disease.
