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                No Vaccine in Sight for HIV/AIDS, Scientists Say

   by Thuso Khumalo

   Scientists attending the 21st International AIDS Conference in Durban
   say there is still no vaccine in sight to prevent HIV/AIDS infections.

   While it is impossible to predict when such a goal will be reached,
   says Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and
   Infectious Diseases, he is optimistic about researchers' progress.

   "It is impossible to say exactly how far we are, but one thing we can
   say is that over the last seven years we have made important strides in
   the direction of getting a vaccine," he said, "but getting an HIV
   vaccine will probably be one of the most important and difficult
   scientific challenges in all of HIV research."

   Although no specific vaccine has become the sole hope, scientists are
   vigorously pursuing tests and trials called HVTN 702. The vaccine being
   tested was developed from a trial in Thailand several years ago, and
   showed a modest degree of effectiveness.

   The trial of the vaccine is set to start in South Africa and other
   African countries later this year, but Fauci says it could be quite
   some time before results are known.

   "It will take at least a couple of years to determine if that vaccine
   works," he said. "If it does, then hopefully we will be closer to where
   we need to be."

   The Vaccine Research Center at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in
   South Africa is testing the ALVAC gp120 vaccine, according to Fatima
   Laher, who leads the center.

   "The vaccine work that we do is to prevent HIV infection from happening
   in people who are negative," she said. "We are only a few months away
   from opening that trial that will show whether or not this vaccine will
   prevent people from getting HIV."
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/no-vaccine-hiv-aids-scientists/3427675.html