Process Illustration

How Herpes is Being Used to Fight AIDS

The attached illustration highlights the novel approach researchers are using to create a new AIDS vaccine. The process described below depicts the top row of the illustration. The bottom row depicts standard vaccine process.

  1. Harmless segments of DNA from the AIDS virus are packed into a re-engineered herpes virus that has been stripped of most of its DNA.
  2. When injected into the body, the modified virus penetrates healthy cells and delivers its DNA payload. The cell uses the DNA to make fragments of proteins that are normally found in the AIDS virus. The protein fragments make their way to the surface of the cell.
  3. The immune system detects the AIDS protein fragments on the surface of the cells and makes antibodies and killer T-cells to attack them.
  4. The antibodies and killer T-cells multiply, forming an army of infection fighters that patrol the body in search of the AIDS-virus protein fragments. If an HIV infection strikes, these infection fighters will recognize its tell-tale protein fragments and attack.

Download the illustration

NIH Funding

A steady increase in NIH funding from 1997 to 2002

NIH Funding at URMC Grows 70% in Six Years.

Clinical Trials

Clinical Trials at Stronghealth

Find Clinical Trials Being Conducted at URMC/Stronghealth.