^{Annual Conference on} Vaccines & Therapeutics STD’s, STI’s & HIV December 08-09, 2016 Philadelphia, USA

Recombinant vector vaccines are experimental vaccines similar to DNA vaccines, but they use an attenuated virus or bacterium to introduce microbial DNA to cells of the body. “Vector” refers to the virus or bacterium used as the carrier. Attenuated bacteria also can be used as vectors. In this case, the inserted genetic material causes the bacteria to display the antigens of other microbes on its surface. In effect, the harmless bacterium mimics a harmful microbe, provoking an immune response.

Researchers are working on both bacterial and viral-based recombinant vector vaccines for HIV, rabies, and measles.

A therapeutic HIV vaccine (also known as a treatment vaccine) is a vaccine used in the treatment of an HIV infected person. Therapeutic HIV vaccines are designed to boost the body's immune response to HIV in order to better control the infection.

All experimental therapeutic HIV vaccines are in very early stages of research, and no therapeutic vaccine is anticipated to be available to the general public for many years, if at all.

Preventive HIV vaccines are designed to protect HIV negative people from becoming infected or getting sick. Although there is currently no vaccine to prevent HIV, researchers are developing and testing potential HIV vaccines. The goal is to develop a vaccine that can protect people from HIV infection, or at least lessen the chance of getting HIV or AIDS should a person be exposed to the virus.

A subunit vaccine presents an antigen to the immune system without introducing viral particles, whole or otherwise. One method of production involves isolation of a specific protein from a virus and administering this by itself.

Instead of the entire microbe, subunit vaccines include only the antigens that best stimulate the immune system. In some cases, these vaccines use epitopes—the very specific parts of the antigen that antibodies or T cells recognize and bind to. Because subunit vaccines contain only the essential antigens and not all the other molecules that make up the microbe, the chances of adverse reactions to the vaccine are lower.

If you have HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) or AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), you should take special precautions against other infections, such as the flu. That's because you have a disease that makes it difficult for your immune system to fight them. Vaccines (immunizations) can help your body defend itself against infections. However, if you have HIV/AIDS immunizations may effect you differently than people who don't have HIV/AIDS.

Not all vaccines are safe for people with HIV/AIDS. Vaccines made from live viruses should be avoided because they may cause a mild case of the disease. Live vaccines are a weaker form of the germ that causes a particular disease. People with HIV/AIDS should receive vaccines made from inactivated diseases. Inactivated vaccines don't contain a living germ.

Vaccine Side Effects and HIV/AIDS:

Anyone, regardless of their HIV status, is at risk of side effects associated with vaccines, including:

• Pain, redness, or swelling at the place where you receive the shot
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Nausea

HIV is a very complex, highly changeable virus, which makes speedy development of a successful preventive HIV vaccine very difficult, but not impossible.  It also takes many years to conduct the research, including the careful clinical testing that will lead to a safe and effective vaccine.

Researchers from around the world have been working for more than two decades to create a vaccine that will protect people against HIV infection. NIAID supports the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN), an international collaboration of scientists and educators searching for an effective and safe HIV vaccine.