Scientists study how bodies fight HIV to help develop a vaccine

Rather than trying to inject a high-risk individual with a vaccine to fight off HIV, researchers are now looking to enhance antibodies that are found naturally in people that may help stave off the mutating virus, according to a recent study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The scientists explained that a strain of HIV evolves in order to escape from these antibodies, called ADCC, which try to attack the virus. Therefore, by providing a sufficient amount of antibodies through a vaccine, the investigators said they believe that people will be able to fight the infection.

"These results show what a slippery customer the HIV virus is, but also shows that these ADCC antibodies are really forcing the virus into changing, in ways that cause it to be weaker. It also implies that if good ADCC antibodies were available prior to infection, via a vaccine, we might be able to stop the virus taking hold. This is the holy grail," said lead researcher Stephen Kent.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 1.1 million Americans are living with HIV.