New research reveals potential HIV vaccine insights

Scientists are discussing data from recent studies that could demonstrate how targeting a certain type of sugar could allow for the creation of multipurpose HIV vaccines.

A team from the Scripps Research Institute has presented data at a recent American Chemical Society meeting that shows how a family of rare and highly potent antibodies can bind to HIV and neutralise it.

These antibodies are able to target glycans, chains of sugars that coat the outer surface of cells in the body, meaning they would be able to penetrate the protective coating that typically shields the HIV virus from being attacked by the immune system.

Dr Ian Wilson, who presented the study, said this information could be used to design "a single vaccine that could protect people against most or all of the HIV strains and subtypes".

According to data from the NHS, around one-quarter of the estimated total of almost 10,000 people suffering from HIV in the UK are unaware they have been infected.