Medical experts are currently checking all possibilities to produce a functional HIV vaccine to save millions of lives. Five prospects are carefully being studied that may unlock the much-awaited effective treatment against the deadly virus of the modern era.

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Cats And Monkeys

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) are the counterpart viruses from cats and monkeys of the human immunodeficiency virus being studied to unlock the mysteries of the virus behind acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Experts believed the structure and genetic material of FIV and SIV are tools to create a functional cure against HIV.

"One major reason there has been no successful HIV vaccine to date is that we do not know which parts of HIV to combine to produce the most effective vaccine. Surprisingly, we have found that certain peptides of the feline AIDS virus can work exceptionally well at producing human T-cells that fight against HIV," Janet Yamamoto of University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and member of the researchers which found secrets of FIV said.

She added monkeys have a major role in unlocking the hidden qualities of SIV for HIV as possible cure or vaccine.

"Our results also suggest that an effector memory T-cell-targeted vaccine might contribute to HIV cure strategies. Although the SIV reservoirs that initially develop in RhCMV/SIV vector-vaccinated controllers are smaller in size and possibly different in character from HIV/SIV reservoirs in the setting of ART administration - it is conceivable that the viral-specific T-cells elicited and maintained by these vectors might exert potent immune pressure on cells with any HIV protein," Louis Picker told Independent Online.

Medicinal Herb For HIV

According to Dr. Paul Wender of Stanford University, an AIDS medicine will become available within 18 to 24 months based from a mamala tree in Samoa.

The Samoan tree has been known by Drs. Wender, Paul Cox and Stephen Brown with other scientists about its therapeutic properties which may be used against viral hepatitis. According to the United States National Cancer Institute, the tree bark contains prostratin, which is a key ingredient used for medical purposes.

CCR5 Genetic Mutation

One aspect which may unlock the creation of an effective HIV cure is the human DNA genetic mutation known as CCR5 Delta32 that disables the ability of AIDS-causing virus to attach on healthy cells.

CCR5 genetic mutation is uncommon and found in a minority of people residing in Northern Europe, which is highly resistant against HIV. Medical scientists are now looking to the possibility of emulating the same genetic mutation on future drugs to disable HIV from infecting human cells.

The 2007 German AIDS patient who underwent bone marrow transplant to treat leukemia was treated of HIV/AIDS and the blood cancer because of his donor with CCR5 genetic mutation.

DAVEI For HIV Suicide

Drexel University researchers are studying a new microbicide on tricking HIV to commit "suicide" instead to attaching itself to healthy cells. Dual action virolytic entry inhibitor (DAVEI) quickly acts by hijacking the virus' fusion machinery required to attach on healthy cells. Inhibitors will prematurely activate the viral fusion component of HIV to put it on "suicide."

Creation of HIV cure or vaccine requires passing on all required clinical trial phases to be sold commercially. Experts are doing everything they can to replace antiretroviral drug therapy with functional HIV cure before AIDS goes out of control.