Vol. 5, Issue 2, Part A (2023)

Despite decades of research, the development of an effective HIV vaccine remains an unmet challenge. The HIV virus exhibits extraordinary genetic diversity, a high mutation rate, and the ability to evade the host immune system, which complicates vaccine design. This review paper explores the immunological challenges associated with HIV vaccine development and highlights the innovative strategies being employed to overcome these obstacles. We discuss the key hurdles, including the virus’s rapid mutation rate, glycan shield, and integration into host genomes, as well as the various approaches under investigation, such as broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs), T-cell-based vaccines, and novel vector systems. The paper concludes with an overview of the current state of HIV vaccine research and the future directions that hold promise for achieving an effective and widely accessible vaccine.