Is this the next step to a HIV vaccine?

[Dubh Aingeal]

"WebMD is reporting on a new vaccine which has had an incredible effect in clinical trials. The vaccine, composed of human dendrites holding dead HIV viruses, has dropped test patients' viral load by up to 90% in one year. Could this be it?"

[Brenda Starrr]

I sure hope so. Two of my best friends are HIV positive. I'd like to see them live very long lives.

[Marblez]

Isn't the purpose of a vaccine to STOP you from getting the virus? I am actually quite interested in knowing who would be willing to join THAT research study.

[SomeDanGuy]

Yeah, that was my impression too. But I guess the technical definition of a vaccine is just a preparation of dead/weakened virus that's injected in order to get the body to create antibodies to it without actually causing an infection.

One of the problems with AIDS is that it hides inside the very cells that are supposed to be fighting it. So the strategy here is to give dead virus particles to a person infected with AIDS so that they will actually create some antibodies to it.