I have to agree that there will not be a vaccine for several reasons:
1. The virus genome is RNA, which has a mutation rate that is
several times higher than DNA viruses.
2. The gp120 protein has a variable region that exhibits
variability normally seen in Immunoglobulins. This
variability occurs in a part of gp120 that is not
necessary for entry into cells.
3. The virus can remain dormant and has immunosupressive
activities (for eg. it decreases MHC I expression).
and most importantly:
4. Since HIV cannot infect monkeys (standard vaccine testers)
who will test a vaccine even if one is available? The infectious dose of
HIV is estimated to be very low.
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"I'll be brief and short and to the point..."
Duane
University of Manitoba; Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
