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. 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. 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, said Dr. Permar.
"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." 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.
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