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Breakthrough as New Vaccine Clears HIV Virus in Monkeys
Global science has finally confirmed cure for Human Immune Virus (HIV), one of the world killer diseases as new studies have proved a vaccine for the monkey equivalent of HIV can eradicate the virus.
The latest report further explained that the new vaccine which cures simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), an infection found in monkeys similar to HIV, would ultimately help scientists create a human version for HIV.
In recent years, spates of findings have shown that HIV can essentially be eradicated in some patients.
Since then, scientists have been scrambling to ultimately find a cure that could drastically change the lives of millions of people worldwide.
Since the beginning of the epidemic, almost 70 million people have been infected with the HIV virus and about 35 million people have died of AIDS.
Globally, 34.0 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2011. Sub-Saharan Africa remains most severely affected, with nearly one in every 20 adults (4.9 per cent) living with HIV and accounting for 69 per cent of the people living with HIV worldwide.
In Nigeria, it is estimated that 3.4 million persons live with the virus.
According to the study from the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute at Oregon Health and Science University, published in the journal Nature, researchers tested the vaccine on 16 monkeys infected with an aggressive form of SIV called SIVmac239.
Nine of the 16 monkeys had the infection completely eliminated from their bodies.
These monkeys were still infection-free between one-and-a-half to three years later. Further research is needed to determine why the vaccine only worked on some monkeys. Researchers also hope to test how the vaccine affects monkeys already infected with SIV, and eventually, if the vaccine could work in humans.
A potential HIV vaccine is still years away. But recent research has developed two vaccines for other infectious diseases that could be available sooner.
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was first recognized as a new disease in 1981 when increasing numbers of young homosexual men succumbed to unusual opportunistic infections and rare malignancies.
A retrovirus, now termed human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), was subsequently identified as the causative agent of what has since become one of the most devastating infectious diseases to have emerged in recent history.
HIV-1 spreads by sexual, percutaneous, and perinatal routes, however, 80 per cent of adults acquire HIV-1 following exposure at mucosal surfaces, and AIDS is thus primarily a sexually transmitted disease.
But based on the latest discovery, the authors said that they will adopt similar approach adopted for the monkeys to test a vaccine for HIV in humans. Commenting, Prof Louis Picker, from the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute at Oregon Health and Science University, said: “It is always tough to claim eradication – there could always be a cell which we didn’t analyse that has the virus in it.
But for the most part, with very stringent criteria… there was no virus left in the body of these monkeys.”
The research team looked at an aggressive form of virus called SIVmac239, which is up to 100 times more deadly than HIV. Infected monkeys usually die within two years, but in some inoculated primates, the virus did not take hold.
The vaccine is based on another virus called cytomegalovirus (CMV), which belongs to the herpes family.
It used the infectious power of CMV to sweep throughout the body. But instead of causing disease, it has been modified to spur the immune system into action to fight off the SIV molecules.
“It maintains an armed force, that patrols all the tissues of the body, all the time, indefinitely,” explained Prof Picker. The researchers gave rhesus macaque monkeys the vaccine, and then exposed them to SIV.
They found that at first, the infection began to establish and spread. But then the monkeys’ bodies started to respond, searching out and destroying all signs of the virus.
Of the monkeys that successfully responded to the vaccine, they were still clear of infection between one-and-a-half and three years later.
Prof Picker said his team was still trying to work out why the vaccination worked in only about half of the monkeys. “It could be the fact that SIV is so pathogenic that this is the best you are ever going to get.
There is a battle going on, and half the time the vaccine wins and half the time it does not,” he said. The researchers are now testing the vaccine to see if it can be used after SIV exposure to treat and potentially cure infected monkeys. They also want to see if the technique could work in humans.
Prof Picker said: “In order to make a human version, we have to make sure it is absolutely safe. We have now engineered a CMV virus which generates the same immune response, but has been attenuated (modified to lose its virulence) to the point where we think it is unequivocally safe.”
This would first have to pass through the regulatory authorities, but if it does, he said he hoped to start the first clinical trials in humans in the next two years.
Commenting on the research, Dr Andrew Freedman, from Cardiff University School of Medicine, said: “This suggests that prophylactic vaccines – vaccines designed to prevent infection – using CMV vectors may be a promising approach for HIV. While they may not prevent the initial infection, they might lead to subsequent clearance, rather than the establishment of chronic infection.”
IFC has anchored a $1.2 billion dual tranche bond issuance—its biggest ever mobilization for a single bond deal—for IHS Holding Limited (“IHS Towers”) to support digital connectivity for millions of people in emerging markets in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.
The funds will enable the company to refinance existing debt and support organic growth across its markets.
The financing package, which was supported by an initial commitment from IFC of up to $100 million, will help the company refinance some of its near-term debt and lengthen its debt maturity profile.
IHS Towers, one of the world’s largest independent communications infrastructure providers, builds towers, supports the deployment of mobile network operator equipment, and provides fiber connectivity for its customers.
Estimates indicate that 95 percent of people without internet access reside in low- and middle-income countries, presenting a significant opportunity to expand digital connectivity.
Access to affordable, good-quality internet services is central to economic and social development, driving business growth, local economies, and access to education, healthcare, and financial services.
Dahlia Khalifa, IFC Regional Director, Central Africa and Anglophone West Africa, said, “This investment represents a transformative step toward closing the digital divide and driving sustainable, inclusive growth in emerging markets.
“We are proud to support IHS Towers through this partnership to help foster digital inclusion and empower businesses and individuals with greater access to digital tools that drive innovation, create jobs, and strengthen communities, especially in the most remote areas of the countries covered by this important project.”
IHS Towers will continue in its efforts to integrate solar power and energy-efficient systems to reduce the carbon emissions intensity of its tower operations, ensuring it plays a central role in driving innovation and growth within the telecoms sector.
“We are proud to support innovative solutions that advance digital inclusion while prioritizing sustainability,” said Sarvesh Suri, IFC Regional Industry Director, Infrastructure and Natural Resources in Africa.
“Our collaboration with IHS Towers underscores our shared commitment to driving sustainable development globally, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, empowering communities to engage more fully in the digital economy.”
IFC has been a long-standing partner of IHS Towers which operates over 40,000 towers facilitating mobile coverage and connectivity for approximately 750 million people across 10 countries: Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia, Brazil, Colombia, and Kuwait. Approximately three quarters of IHS’s towers are located in Africa.
By financing mobile network operators, independent tower operators, data centers, and broadband providers, IFC is strengthening the infrastructure needed to expand digital connectivity. This effort actively bolsters Africa’s digital economy while providing reliable and affordable access to millions.
News
ALX Startup Accelerator Hosts Transformative Pitch Session, Showcasing Groundbreaking Innovations
Africa’s startup and career accelerator, ALX, reaffirmed its commitment to addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges through entrepreneurship by hosting an impactful online pitch session featuring 10 promising startups from its ecosystem.
The event provided a platform for the startups to present their innovative business solutions and models, receiving valuable feedback from a panel of three expert judges.
The highlight of the event was when Grow Kinesis, a groundbreaking health and fitness digital solution, clinched first place position among other impressive solutions such as second-placed Helgg, a micro-mobility company of e-vehicles, and third-placed Uri Creative, a creative marketplace and digital analytical tool.
Joshua Ebinabo, Entrepreneurship Development Manager for ALX in Nigeria, expressed his pleasure at the event and the strides made by participating startups.
“ALX is committed to empowering entrepreneurs with the tools, mentorship, and opportunities they need to transform their ideas into solutions that tackle global challenges.
“With this pitch session, we showcase incredible potential within our ecosystem. Watching these startups grow, innovate, and inspire is a privilege,” he stated.
The session also featured candid feedback from the panel of expert judges, who applauded the ingenuity, creativity, and determination of the participants. The constructive critique will enable the startups to refine their strategies and amplify their impact.
The other participating startups were Afren, a digital platform bridging the gap between clients and freelancers, Browpay, an innovative hybrid of payment and supply solution, Delivit, a last-mile delivery solution, Chao, a fast and reliable food and essentials delivery service, Haidy Food, a wholesale e-commerce platform, Medrack Health, a health-tech and pharmaceutical solutions provider, and Viscio Express, an Agro-Logistics provider and transport solution.
ALX remains steadfast in its dedication to identifying and supporting visionary entrepreneurs. By creating opportunities for startups to thrive, the accelerator is paving the way for sustainable solutions to global challenges, positioning Africa as a hub of transformative innovation.
Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms (PCFPTR), says that 90% of Nigerians support the tax reform bills introduced by the Tinubu administration.
OyedeLe said this while speaking at a special town hall meeting organized for the bills which was aired on Channels TV on Monday, December 2. While speaking, Oyedele shared insights from a survey conducted by his team involving over 3,000 participants, both online and offline. According to him, the survey showed that many Nigerians loved the bill and were in support of it.
“Among those who attended in person, the approval rate was 100%. For those who engaged online or watched recorded sessions, approval was at 92%. Even among those who only followed updates without participating directly, approval reached 76%. Overall, support for the reforms exceeds 90%,” Oyedele explained.
He emphasized that the reform bills contain over 200 transformative provisions aimed at unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential and charting a path to prosperity.
“We should not let one or two controversial provisions that can be discussed and resolved derail this process,” he said
In September, President Bola Tinubu submitted Four tax reform bills to the National Assembly based on recommendations from the PCFPTR. These include: The Nigeria Tax Bill 2024; Establishing a fiscal framework for taxation in the country and the Tax Administration Bill which will provide a streamlined legal framework for tax administration and reducing disputes.
Others are the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, to replace the Federal Inland Revenue Service Act to create the Nigeria Revenue Service and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, to create a tax tribunal and a tax ombudsman.
The bills have however been met with stiff criticism from some state governors who argue that the bills will only benefit states like Lagos and Rivers states. Northern governors who are against the bill have called for it to be withdrawn.
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