AI Summary
The research at Weill Cornell Medicine shows that childhood immunization against HIV could potentially offer protection before the risk of acquiring the infection greatly increases in adolescence. The study involved vaccinating young non-human primates with six doses of a modified protein from HIV particles, which stimulated a robust immune response that could provide long-lasting protection. Immunizing children at a young age is crucial as the risk factors increase steeply when adolescents become sexually active. Infants and children typically mount more effective immune responses to the virus than adults. The findings suggest that an HIV vaccine could be administered similarly to routine childhood vaccines. The ultimate goal of this research is to prevent HIV infection without the need for lifelong treatment.
Research at Weill Cornell Medicine suggests that childhood immunization against HIV could one day provide protection before risk of contracting this potentially fatal infection dramatically increases in adolescence. Â
The study, published Aug. 30 in Science Immunology, demonstrated that a series of six vaccinations containing a modified protein from the surface of HIV particles stimulated initial steps of a potent immune response in young non-human primates. This difficult-to-achieve response represents an important step toward providing full and potentially life-long protection against the virus, the researchers say.
Immunizing young children, rather than adults, makes sense because risk factors for HIV infection rise steeply when adolescents become sexually active, according to senior author Dr. Sallie Permar, the Nancy C. Paduano Professor in Pediatrics and chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine.Â
What’s more, evidence suggests that the immune systems of infants and children generally mount more effective responses to the virus than those of adults. One of the advancements we’ve made is to demonstrate that an HIV vaccine could be delivered on a schedule similar to routine vaccines already given to babies and children.”
Dr. Sallie Permar, the Nancy C. Paduano Professor in Pediatrics and chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine
Prepping the immune system early
HIV predominantly infects immune cells called CD4 T cells, leaving individuals vulnerable to opportunistic diseases. Without lifelong treatment, infection is fatal. In 2022, an estimated 140,000 adolescents between 10 and 19 years old worldwide became infected with the