Immune Response to HIV-1 Infection and Vaccine Development

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection represents an ongoing challenging public health epidemic. This is in part because of the socioeconomic burden on low-income countries, lack of access to highly active antiretroviral therapy and other medical treatment, and progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) over the course of years. To control or eradicate this virus, a prophylactic vaccine must be generated. Despite several decades of research, development, and clinical trials, there is not yet an effective immunization. This chapter focuses on unique aspects of the immune response to this infection, challenges of vaccine development, key clinical trials, and promising vaccine strategies.

The Question of HIV Vaccine: Why Is a Solution Not Yet Available?

“…Developing countries have the highest incidence of infection, and about nine out of 10 sick people cannot afford these life-lasting medications [ 1 , 2 ]. In addition, the urgent progression toward a HIV-1 vaccine is also due to some important pharmacological limitations such as the occurrence of drug-resistant viral variants, adverse effects, and interactions with different medications [ 3 ]. Since 1796, the traditional workflow of isolating and inactivating or attenuating the virus, followed by injection, was found to be extremely effective and, in the past, it was applied to treat HIV-1 infection with inconclusive results [ 4 ].…”