Why is a vaccine to control AIDS so elusive?

There are two main strains of the HIV retrovirus. HIV-1 is predominently found here in the U.S. The HIV retrovirus is what is known as a "sloppy copier." It tends to evolve as conditions in the human body change. This is why we have seen treatment resistant versions of the virus occur. Some individuals will be treatment "naive," meaning any of the four major classes of medications will work on the virus, others are not and therefore any one (or more) of these medications will not work. This presents a problem for researchers trying to formulate a vaccine for the HIV retrovirus. One may work for one individual may not work for another.

Todd (AIDS - positive since 2004)

I See Great Problem With Creating a Humoral Vaccine, The Epitopes Are Changing Constantly and Not "Neutralizing" to Infection. I personally Think a Cellular Route Needs to Be Developed, In Along the Lines Set Forth In the Paper from "the Journal of Immunology" volume 150(4), page 1244.

Most vaccines are mutated or killed versions of the real virus. However, with HIV even if researchers "kill" the virus, it would potentially lead to HIV infection in the person. The HIV virus mutates all the time and can potentially be "smarter" than the scientists who make the vaccine.

There are many different genes that researchers are trying to manipulate to make the virus not able to infect our cells. But since it mutates a lot, as mentioned before, it has been challenging.

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