A new type of vaccine could hold the key to finding a cure for HIV, a new study shows.
There is currently no cure for HIV, but researchers in the USA believe mRNA can bypass common obstacles in the creation of a vaccine for the disease.
HIV impacts nearly 41 million people globally and over 30,000 people in Australia.
Research carried out by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Centre in the United States revealed that 80 percent of the participants had antibodies that combat HIV.
It marks a step in finding a long-term cure to the disease, which is currently treated with antiretroviral therapy.
It is still highly prevalent in southern Africa, including Botswana and South Africa.
Seth Cheetham, who specialises in mRNA at the University of Queensland, said the vaccine could be a crucial tool in the fight against HIV.
“This study marks significant progress in the global effort to develop a safe and effective HIV vaccine that prevents infection,” he said.
“While drugs for HIV treatment and prevention have transformed the lives of people living with HIV, an effective vaccine is still urgently needed.
“[If] the results hold up in larger real-world studies in the community, mRNA vaccines could be a transformative tool in the fight against HIV.”
