Rare antibody found in HIV cases
David Brown; 9/8/08
Some long-term survivors of HIV infection produce rare and extremely potent antibodies that keep the disease from progressing to AIDS and might point to a way to protect healthy people from the virus. Researchers reported on the discovery on Thursday in the closing hours of the 17th International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. The antibodies — against a particular part of a much-studied HIV protein called gp120 — might prove useful as a tool for blocking infection during sexual intercourse. If researchers could find a way to prompt the immune system to make its own supply of the antibodies before encountering the virus, they would have a vaccine.
See: http://www.theage.com.au/world/rare-antibody-found-in-hiv-cases-20080808-3sco.html