The new AIDS DNA vaccine has been approved for trials in humans. Testing has already began this year in Cuba. The first round will be given to already
HIV positive subjects.
AIDS vaccine will be tested in patients
From the head of the vaccine development team in Cuba:
Source Link He told the
crowd at the convention center that the vaccine TERAVAC-HIV-1 was made from recombinant proteins aiming "to cause a cellular response against the
(HIV) virus."
Source Link "So far, there have been more than 100 clinical tests
(on humans) with HIV" in Cuba and other countries, "and all of them have failed," he stressed.
The vaccine is also set to begin first phase testing in humans
in
Canada.
Here, Inovio Pharmaceuticals states that they are
already
getting positive results using the DNA vaccine.
"We are particularly excited by the positive interim results of the HIV-001 study in HIV-positive subjects. This data is a first for DNA vaccines
by yielding robust T cell immune responses in people chronically infected with HIV. Even though the HIV viral load of these volunteers was suppressed
and brought under control by antiretroviral drugs, their immune systems are not normal and would typically have difficulty generating strong T cell
responses to any immune stimulating approach. Coupled with positive data from two earlier trials, Inovio's results demonstrate the potency of our
synthetic vaccine technology platform and raises the potential for the development of therapeutic vaccines against HIV and other chronic
infections,"
If anyone is not familiar with DNA vaccines, note the following warnings listed on one of the top DNA cell plasmid manufacturers website,
VGXI, Inc.
One of the issues of most concern to researchers is the possibility that the injected DNA will actually integrate into one of the human
chromosomes inside the cell. The effect could range from no effect or could potentially lead to cancer through alteration of normal DNA. Other
disadvantages to DNA vaccines include: Limited to protein immunogens.[2] Risk of affecting genes controlling cell growth.[2] Possibility of inducing
antibody production against DNA.[2] Possibility of tolerance to the antigen (protein) produced.[2] Potential for atypical processing of bacterial and
parasite proteins.[2]
What are your thoughts, ATS? Good or possibly harmful? Genetically modifying humans? Simply helping those with a terrible disease? Possibly giving a
virus the ability to mutate and become worse down the line?
edit on 2-4-2012 by fictitious because: (no reason given)