Why An HIV Vaccine Can Work

By Steven Argue

Vaccines stimulate the immune system against pathogens such as viruses. When the virus enters the body, certain cells are activated by the immune system to destroy the invader. The cells that are activated are mainly B cells and T cells. B cells make molecules that attach to viruses floating in the blood stream called antibodies. When antibodies are attached to the virus this prevents the virus from infecting any new cells. T cells perform another immune response function by actually attacking and destroying infected cells (and the viruses with them).

T cells and B cells are activated by foreign molecules from the invading microorganism. These foreign molecules are called antigens. Each T cell or B cell is activated by only one specific antigen. That specific antigen is called its destiny antigen.

The activation of a B cell or T cell by its destiny antigen stimulates an immune response where those specific B cells and T cells make many clones of themselves to fight the virus. Some of these cloned cells will remain in the body as memory cells after the virus has been fought off.

Future contact with the virus in a body that contains such memory cells can assure that the new invasion will be met by a faster and more powerful immune response, thus preventing infection. This how the vaccinations for measles and mumps work. It is on this same principle, with some added challenges, that a vaccination for HIV is possible.