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First human clinical trial of HIV vaccine in S Africa begins
Johannesburg, Nov 04: The first human clinical trial of an HIV vaccine in South Africa begins this week, researchers have announced.
Johannesburg, Nov 04: The first human clinical trial
of an HIV vaccine in South Africa begins this week,
researchers have announced.
The drug, which is also being tested in the United
States, is one of about two dozen potential vaccines being
tested by some 12,000 human volunteers in experiments around
the world.
But it is the only one that contains genetic material from the HIV strain most prevalent in South Africa- the country with the most people infected with HIV in the world.
Some 4.7 million South Africans, roughly 11 per cent of the population, are infected with the aids-causing virus. An estimated 600 to 1,000 South Africans die every day from AIDS-related complications. The tests beginning this week are the first of a series planned by the South African aids vaccine initiative, established by the government three years ago to develop an affordable, effective and locally relevant vaccine.
"An HIV vaccine is our best hope of eradicating HIV from the globe,'' said Tim Tucker, who heads the initiative yesterday. "It is an extremely exciting time.''
The first drug being tested contains parts of a weakened strain of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis and a harmless gene from a South African HIV strain.
By entering human cells, scientists hope it will stimulate the production of antibodies that will forever fight off AIDS infections, and also train specialized cells dubbed killer T-cells to identify and eliminate infected cells after someone contracts the virus. Bureau Report
But it is the only one that contains genetic material from the HIV strain most prevalent in South Africa- the country with the most people infected with HIV in the world.
Some 4.7 million South Africans, roughly 11 per cent of the population, are infected with the aids-causing virus. An estimated 600 to 1,000 South Africans die every day from AIDS-related complications. The tests beginning this week are the first of a series planned by the South African aids vaccine initiative, established by the government three years ago to develop an affordable, effective and locally relevant vaccine.
"An HIV vaccine is our best hope of eradicating HIV from the globe,'' said Tim Tucker, who heads the initiative yesterday. "It is an extremely exciting time.''
The first drug being tested contains parts of a weakened strain of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis and a harmless gene from a South African HIV strain.
By entering human cells, scientists hope it will stimulate the production of antibodies that will forever fight off AIDS infections, and also train specialized cells dubbed killer T-cells to identify and eliminate infected cells after someone contracts the virus. Bureau Report