T-cells primed to destroy HIV

US scientists could be able to embark on one of the most important trials of a potential Aids cure to date.

The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry's Department of Immunology & Microbiology is putting a vaccine through its final stages after 20 years of research.

Although several clinical trials of HIV/Aids vaccines are underway at the moment, with many failures, Professor Yong Kang is confident of his approach.

"The success of this vaccine will really help the millions and millions of people around the world affected by HIV/AIDS," the professor said.

Researchers' genetically engineered vaccine works by priming T-cells to destroy cells harbouring HIV, essentially curing a patient of the virus.

The University of Western Ontario research team is one of only a handful to have received a patent for a HIV vaccine.

If the final laboratory tests give medics the green light, the vaccine could be rolled out to patients for trials in less than three months.

More than 33 million people had HIV/Aids in 2007, according to the latest statistics from the World Health Authority, with 2.5 million new infections and 2.1 million deaths.

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