MIT researchers have made a major advancement in HIV/AIDS vaccine development, discovering that administering two doses of an experimental vaccine just one week apart can trigger a robust immune response. This finding matches the effectiveness of a previously studied seven-dose regimen, offering a simpler approach to priming the immune system against HIV.

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The breakthrough was achieved through computational modeling and mouse experiments, demonstrating that this condensed dosing schedule could make mass HIV vaccination campaigns more feasible and effective. The experimental vaccine consists of an HIV envelope protein paired with a novel adjuvant, which enhances the body’s immune response. 

Currently, the vaccine is being tested in non-human primates, with a single-dose version already in clinical trials. While more research is needed to confirm these findings in humans, this innovative approach represents a promising step toward a globally accessible HIV vaccine, potentially accelerating efforts to end the AIDS pandemic.