Developing an HIV Vaccine has proved to pose an unprecedented challenge to scientists in the past and even today. The HIV virus is spreading fast worldwide and the AIDS clinical consequences are clearly devastating therefore an effective vaccine is required to contain the situation. The introduction of the article “recognizing the human potential,” by Gene Shearer and Adriano Boasso does accurately explain the reason why scientist need to reconsider an AIDS vaccine that concentrates more on the human immune system rather than the viruses (Shearer 1).
The article does give a correct and detailed summary of the traditional approach which was used to make HIV vaccines. This is evidenced by the analysis of the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) which is found to infect the rhesus of macaque monkey. The SIV worked with the monkeys showing AIDS related symptoms just like in human beings. After vaccination, the monkeys responded well but it failed on human beings because the vaccine made their immune cells vulnerable to the HIV infection (Shearer 2).
This is the main reason why the traditional HIV vaccines have been ineffective; the immune system fails to respond to the infecting virus. It is a fact that, an individual’s first encounter with the virus is clearly detected by the immune system and at that time it can respond to it. After some time, the virus is hard to detect and this affects the immune system making it more vulnerable to an infection by the virus.
The article explains that, while experimenting with SIV, human leukocyte antigens (HLA) were put to the test for they contain antigens that are essential for any immune infection. The reason why HLA molecules are preferred by scientists is because they have the ability to recognize and bind the particles of the HIV. HLA antigens are polymorphic because the leucocytes or white blood cells can recognize any foreign material in the body and “mount a potent immune response” (Shearer 4).
The essay clearly explains three potential problems associated with the use of HLA to develop an HIV vaccine. Even though the HLA antigens could be useful in the HIV vaccine development, it does have its shortcomings as evidenced by the article. Some people like pregnant mothers could have miscarriages because their immune system does not recognize the HLA antigens as foreign material thus does not protect the fetus. HLA blocks essential receptors as well as co-receptors and their adaptive response towards the virus (Shearer 5). The HLA antigens also stimulate the rapid activation of the antiviral factors like EDN and APOBEC3G which usually interferes with the innate response.
The article does not clearly describe the functions of the CCR5 and anti-CCR5 antibodies and how they help in limiting the infectivity of HIV. CCR5 has been stated as a recently discovered “HIV co-receptor molecule.” The anti-CCR5 has been explained as an antibody which prevents the virus from entering the body by blocking its interactions with receptors and co-receptors; in other words it serves the purpose of adaptive response (Belyakov 249).
The essay does not give a short summary of the main points rather it gives a detailed account of the development of the HIV vaccines since 1991. The authors explain the contribution made through experimenting with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and human leukocyte antigens (HLA).
Works Cited
Belyakov, Igor. “Immunobiology of mucosal HIV infection and the basis for development of a new generation of mucosal AIDS vaccines.” Immunity 20. 3 (2004): 247-253. Print.
Shearer, Gene and Boasso, Adriano. “Recognizing the human potential.” The scientist 2011: 1-7. Print.