Through a process called affinity maturation, all of the HIV-specific antibodies identified so far have accumulated multiple mutations, some of which are required for them to bind to and neutralize HIV. Researchers are now beginning to grapple with what this means for vaccine design.
The efficacy of a microbicide candidate was the definitive bright spot at this year's conference, while the lingering economic slowdown and its impact on HIV/AIDS funding were dark clouds on the horizon.
Researchers are starting to apply the tools of systems biology to better understand human immune responses to vaccination, including HIV vaccine candidates.