title: [Vaccine for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)--relevance of these days].
abstract: Since 1980 more than 25 million people have died from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which results from infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Number of new cases increases very threateningly. One and the most effective method to stop the progress of epidemic is the development of the vaccine for HIV. There is the presentation of the first stage of the vaccine for HIV testing (structure, methodology), which is now on trial in St. Pierre hospital, Brussels University. HIV characteristics which inflame the process of the vaccine development, historical facts and facts about vaccines on trial in these days are reviewed in this article. More than 10,000 volunteers have been participating in various clinical trials since 1987. The development of the vaccine is a very difficult, long-terming (about 8-10 years) and costly process. The process of the vaccine testing is very difficult in developing countries where the infection spreads the most rapidly. Available data confirm that the vaccine must be multi-componential, inducing cellular, humoral immunity against various subtypes of HIV. The vaccine cannot protect fully but the changes of the natural infection course could decrease virulence, distance the stage of AIDS, and retard the spread of the epidemic.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Kaunas University of Medicine, Eiveniu 2, 50009 Kaunas, Lithuania. infektkl@kmu.lt
authors.forename: Alvydas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laiskonis
authors.forename: Evelina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pukenyte
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000191:economics / Q000276:immunology; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D000328:Adult; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines