title: Mucosal HIV vaccines: a holy grail or a dud?
abstract: The mucosal immune system appears to be a major target of the HIV infection. Therefore, a strong pre-existing anti-HIV immune response in mucosal compartments might be able to prevent HIV infection. Conflicting views regarding the mechanisms of protection at mucosal sites, inferred by the contradictory results of mucosal vaccines in human clinical trials, attests to our lack of knowledge in understanding the human mucosal immune system. In this article, we briefly review the function of innate and adaptive immune responses and discuss current strategies and potential adjuvants in designing and delivering HIV vaccines through mucosal routes.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research Center, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, 401 Smyth, Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8L1, Canada. aazizi@uottawa.ca
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azizi
authors.forename: Haitham
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghunaim
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Diaz-Mitoma
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mestecky
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic