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Researchers from HAI have an impressive record of achievement in AIDS research, with HAI scientists responsible for many important discoveries in HIV vaccine development. Among these are:
- Identification of the HIV envelope proteins gp120 and gp160, which are essential components for both blood diagnostic tests and HIV vaccines
- Discovery of the simian immunodeficiency virus, an AIDS-related virus in monkeys, and demonstration of the importance of this virus as a model for the development of vaccines in humans
- First identification and mapping of various HIV-1 and HIV-2 gene products, including nef, vif, pol, vpx, vpu, and vpr
- Discovery of HIV-2, the second human AIDS virus
- First demonstration that HIV-2 causes AIDS and immunodeficiency markedly less often than HIV-1
- Demonstration that HIV-2 is transmitted much less efficiently that HIV-1
- Demonstration that HIV-2 can partially protect against HIV-1 infection, showing for the first time in humans that vaccine protection against HIV-1 may be possible
- First infectious molecular clone of HIV-1C from an African isolate
- First Simian/Human Immunodeficiency Virus (SHIV) chimera based on HIV-1C of African origin
- First comprehensive genetic and phylogenetic characterization of HIV-1C including generation of a consensus sequence
- Identification of predominant epitopes of HIV-1C targeted by cytotoxic T lymphocytes in Botswana population, which facilitated a rational approach to vaccine design for southern Africa
- Development of modified-anthrax toxin based system as a novel HIV vaccine delivery technology
- Demonstration that some strains of HIV-1, such as those currently in Africa and Asia, are linked to heterosexual transmission, with recognition that new and different heterosexual epidemics are occurring
- Demonstration that antiretroviral therapy can work well in some developing country settings
- Development of various protocols for most effective use of antiretroviral drugs to block maternal transmission of HIV in developing countries
- First HIV vaccine trial in southern Africa
- First HIV vaccine trial linking Africa and U.S. to the same protocol for concurrent initiation
- Identification of new recombinant HIV's in Tanzania and new patterns of HIV-1 evolution and fitness
- Development and maintenance of longest continuous cohort of HIV infected people in Africa
- Discovery of HIV-1 subtype genomic differences that facilitate activation from latency
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