HIV/AIDS is causing a global health crisis unprecedented in the recent history of mankind with an estimated 2.4-3.3 million people dead in 2005 alone and a third of these deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa, according to World Health Organisation figures.
An EU funded project, Mucosal Vaccines for Poverty related Diseases (MUVAPRED), is running its first series of trials to study a novel nasal vaccine against HIV which will aim to neutralise the virus where it enters the body.
The vaccine uses a small modified part of the outer protective shell of the HIV virus that has been modified to enhance protection against HIV infection. It also uses the 'LTK63′ molecule as a 'mucosal adjuvant’ to boost the immune response to the HIV components of the vaccine and direct the response to the genital tract, the key infectious entry point for the virus.
By delivering the vaccine via the nose, not only will the use of needles be avoided, but it will also exploit the ability of nasal immunisation through 'mucosal adjuvants’ to provoke protective immune responses in the genital tract.
A total of 30 subjects make up the study, which will determine the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine in humans. It will then compare antibody and cellular responses to the HIV components with and without the LTK63 mucosal adjuvant.
In addition, and unique to this study, women will have responses to HIV measured in samples obtained from the cervix and vagina using new techniques.
If successful, the vaccine will go into further and more extensive evaluation in Phase 2 trials and in Phase 1 trials with volunteers in Africa.
Ultimately, this vaccine could offer protection against HIV infection through sexual contact, which is the primary means of transmitting the virus and the global HIV/AIDS pandemic.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.mucosalimmunity.org/muvapred/index.asp http://ec.europa.eu/research/health/poverty-diseases/projects/111_en.htm
Category: Projects
Data Source Provider: MUVAPRED
Document Reference: Based on MUVAPRED press release
Subject Index: Medicine, Health; Scientific Research; Social Aspects
RCN: 26749
http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=EN_NEWS&ACTION=D&DOC=50&CAT=NEWS&QUERY=0123f1cfd725:aaa8:247d0338&RCN=26749