Hurdles in the path to an HIV-1 vaccine

Emilio A. Emini
From: Science & Medicine: Volume 2 Number 3: Page 38 (June 1995)

Abstract: A persistent state of viral replication coupled with the high mutation rate that is characteristic of RNA viruses constitutes a formidable obstacle to the development of a prophylactic vaccine against HIV-1 infection. Novel approaches to vaccine design endeavor to surmount the barrier of viral diversity. They include recombinant viral (and possibly bacterial) vectors, "naked" DNA, and synthetic immunogens. Whether any potential vaccine can be effective against primary clinical strains of HIV-1, as opposed to laboratory-adapted strains, is an open question.

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