Inclusion in HIV Vaccine Trials: A Critical Need

Agrima Bhatt, Rajasthan University

HIV has been present in our society for more than 30 years, from Central Africa to the USA and around the world. Viruses, as we can observe from 2021, are hard to combat! From the 1700s till today, have we progressed in society to include everyone without prejudice. From this crucial bit to the question of HIV. Is it still an epidemic? Let’s find more!

It is unfortunate that over a million people still face death every year from HIV (as reported by WHO). Most of the cases that are suffering from HIV find themselves in a serious predicament, occurring due to various reasons. One such reason is either the delay or absence of treatment. This takes place as people become marginalized from society and face immense guilt and prejudice, even after about 40 years since the first case appeared.

HIV first appeared in Africa in the late 1800s. It is known to come from a type of chimpanzee in Central Africa. From there on, it continues to rage in the world from the mid-1970s in the USA till now becoming a major health concern on a global scale. 2019 statistics report that about 38 million people are currently carrying HIV in their bloodstream including 1.8 million children.

The Thai Case 

Since 2010, there has been a surge of HIV diagnoses in men who have sex with men (MSM). About 11 percent of transgenic women (TGW) were also found to be prevalent with this virus as compared to 1.1 percent in all Thai adults. According to the Asian Epidemic Model, over half of HIV infections in the next decade or so are threatening the MSM population in Thailand. 

Since the uptake of traditional prevention methods has been low, such as oral PrEP, novel preventive methods have come out in research to stop this surge infection. Oral PrEP stands for Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis is the administration of antiviral drugs to an HIV-negative person to decrease his/her susceptibility to the virus. Such methods are not very popular in Thailand due to the expenditure and time expense. New methods like prevention vaccines have become quite popular in the research and development sector and scientists are looking into factors concerning “seroconversion”.

Vaccine Trials and Investigation:

However, vaccine trials account for three main things to be considered successful. One is the willingness of participants, the second is gaining access to the HIV population, and the last remains the retention rate over a while. Over the 18-month trial period, 53 HIV infections were reported, equal in both transgenic women and MSM. An excellent retention rate of 93.4% was found among participants which are crucial for vaccine studies. Among the infected persons, 18–21 years old showed the highest risk of seroconversion i.e., the antibodies start developing in an HIV-positive until detectable range. 

Significance of the study:

Such vaccine trials become crucial not only for the development but also to encourage people to come out and educate themselves. This study was found to be significant to educate the target population on HIV and its prevention methods. Such clinical trials encourage the inclusion of all people irrespective of gender or sexual orientation in taking preventive measures against HIV. This study highlighted the importance of awareness and education towards HIV and its preventive measures. Through this research, the importance of PrEP and clinical trials among the youth was found out to be the need of the hour.

Also read: Mutant Genes Acting aid in Inter-Kingdom Genetic Transfer

References:

1. Wansom, T., Muangnoicharoen, S., Nitayaphan, S., Kitsiripornchai, S., Crowell, T. A., Francisco, L., Gilbert, P., Rwakasyaguri, D., Dhitavat, J., Li, Q., King, D., Robb, M. L., Smith, K., Heger, E. A., Akapirat, S., Pitisuttithum, P., O’Connell, R. J., & Vasan, S. (2021). Risk Factors for HIV sero-conversion in a high incidence cohort of men who have sex with men and transgender women in Bangkok, Thailand. EClinicalMedicine, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.101033 

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Author’s info:

Agrima Bhatt is an undergraduate student studying BSc. Biotechnology in Jaipur, Rajasthan. She is a science and research enthusiast who also loves to write articles and short snippets.

Some of her published articles at BioXone are:

1. https://bioxone.in/news/worldnews/molecular-mechanisms-underlying-virescent-mutation-in-cotton/
2. https://bioxone.in/news/worldnews/multi-angle-projection-microscope-a-novel-imaging-technique/
3. https://bioxone.in/news/worldnews/scientists-develop-novel-cholera-vaccine-from-rice-grains/
4. https://bioxone.in/news/worldnews/ai-predicts-the-relation-between-viruses-and-mammals/