Trials of an HIV vaccine that is designed to protect uninfected people from infection have begun in South Africa, a country with one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. Dr Seth Berkley, the President and CEO of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative said, “This marks one of the great moments in the global effort to stop the spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic by developing a preventative vaccine”.

The vaccine (AVX101), which was designed by AlphaVax Inc., consists of a weakened strain of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, which acts as a vector to carry HIV genetic material into host cells. AVX101 is the first vaccine to be tested that has been designed specifically to target HIV-1 subtype C, which is most prevalent in South Africa, rather than subtype B, which is predominant in the developed world and for which other vaccine trials are underway. The trial aims to test the safety and dosage of the vaccine, and is being carried out in South Africa and the USA.

Glenda Gray, a researcher at the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, explained to The New Scientist that due to the escalating epidemic occurring in South Africa “People are despondent about HIV — this represents a ray of light. It is obviously the beginning of a long haul, but we have begun the process”. However, Tim Tucker, from the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative, predicted it would be at least ten years before an effective vaccine would be ready for widespread distribution (reported by Associated Press).