Brazilian scientists developed an HIV vaccine and planned to test it on monkeys by late 2013. The early stage of the new developed vaccine aimed to maintain the low viral level of an infected person rather than eliminate it.

New HIV Vaccine Developed

Brazilian scientists who developed an HIV vaccine were planning to test it in monkeys before 2013 ends, according to an institution which sponsored the endeavour. It is known as the HIVBr18 which was developed and patented by a team from the Medicine Faculty of the University of Sao Paulo, according to the State of Sao Paulo Research Foundation or FAPESP.

The vaccine was still in stages of development and aimed to maintain the low level of viral load inside an infected person, preventing it from developing AIDS or transmit HIV to another, not eliminate the disease from the host.

"Our goal is to test various immunization methods to select the one capable of inducing a stronger immunological response and thus be able to test it on humans," FAPESP quoted Edecio Cunha Neto as quoted by the New Zealand Herald.

Mr Neto, Jorge Kalil and Simone Fonseca worked since 2001 to develop the vaccine and planed to test a colony of rhesus monkeys provided by Sao Paulo state's Butantan biomedical research institute. The first clinical trials will commence after adequate funding has become available.

Monkeys were chosen for the clinical trials due to the similarity of their immune system with humans and susceptibility to the SIV or Simian Immuno Virus which was linked to HIV via genetic mutation.

HIV Vaccine Research

Vaccine for HIV was not designed to give immunity from disease, but instead a therapeutic effect for persons who have or later contract HIV/AIDS. As of today, there is no effective HIV vaccine known, but lots of research were managing to reach clinical trials, if not, seek to create one. HIV vaccine was proven to be possible in future years.

Factors why HIV Vaccine is very difficult to create:

- Classic vaccines such as polio vaccine mimic natural immunity of the body against reinfection; AIDS patients recovery is almost zero.

- Most vaccines protect against disease, not infection; HIV infection remains for years before causing AIDS.

- Most vaccines protect against infections that are infrequently encountered; HIV may be encountered daily by individuals with high risk lifestyle.

- Most vaccines protect against mucosal surfaces of respiratory and gastrointestinal tract infections; HIV infection mostly occur through genital tract.

- HIV is highly mutable which effectively evades the immune system.